Aiden Markram says the Proteas are very happy with their 294-run lead at the end of day three of the third Test against Australia at Newlands.

The 23-year-old played maturely on his way to 84 runs in the second innings, which helped the team end the day with a very valuable total of 294, with five wickets still in hand.

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‘We’re very happy with the position we’re in,’ Markram told journalists after the game.

‘We haven’t thought of a target just yet. As a side, we haven’t quite mentioned it. We haven’t spoken about batting time because we realise there’s still a lot of time left in the game.

‘It worked out well today, and obviously, tomorrow morning is important as well,’ he said.

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Markram, who was dropped twice — on zero and 59 — admitted he was disappointed not to go on and register his fourth Test century, having played some beautiful shots that had the Newlands crowd on their feet.

‘I was very fortunate because I could have had a pair,’ he said, referencing his duck in the first innings.

‘I could have gone to Joburg with a lot of demons in my head, so I was very fortunate. It would have been nice to go on to three figures. When you get to 78, you’d like to really go big. Not just three figures, but sort of a big hundred.

‘I was disappointed because I knew at that stage of the game the ball might tend to hold up on the wicket. I could have adjusted and played it better, so I was disappointed to not have kicked on.’

The series between South Africa and Australia has been competitive and full of drama and twists, and Markram, playing in just his ninth Test, said Test cricket was everything he expected it to be.

‘It’s exactly it. It feels crazy, but it’s so cool. You learn a lot, and you learn quickly. If you don’t, you’re going to be exposed. I think that’s the beauty of international Test cricket between two quality sides. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m trying to learn as much as I can.

‘To keep learning is the goal, and even though I’m still inexperienced, to keep adding value to the side is still important.’

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images