Aiden Markram relieved to see South Africa secure WTC final qualification

Aiden Markram played a starring role in South Africa's win in the first Test agianst Pakistan in Centurion. The batter scored 89 in the first innings and, chasing 148 in the second innings, Markram scored a composed 37 with wickets falling around him to take his side to their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) final.

South Africa were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 99/8, but then an unbeaten 51-run stand between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen took them over the line. Markram, who led the Proteas to the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, says he is relieved to have won the Test and got to the summit clash.

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"Pretty relieved, that was really tense, to get on the right side is a big thing for us, to get past the winning mark and make it to the WTC final is a big relief for us," Player of the Match Markram said at the post-match presentation. 

"Today was the most important knock [compared to the first innings]. I would've loved to be there at the end, but it didn't work that way." 

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, who top-scored in the phase with 40, says making it to the WTC final is quite emotional for him. "Quite an emotional moment for me," Bavuma said.

"Lot of joy and happiness on our side. We did the hard way. But glad we won. I was still sulking. Aiden get them going. Wasn't a lot of conversations. We still had the confidence."

The team took a lot of flak for choosing the SA20 over the Test series against New Zealand. A second-string Proteas side lost two Tests aginst the Blackcaps, but since then, the full-strength unit lost just once, winning seven along the way.

"The way we started our campaign against India. We weren't given much of a chance," Bavuma recalled.

"We weren't ruthless. But we kept finding ways. We hope the guys can get confidence from performances like these. Guys get picked on when they do badly. We would like to enjoy the moment and take stock of what we have done."

Bavuma's counterpart Shan Masood rued the golden opportunity missed for Pakistan to register their first win in South Africa in almost 18 years. He reckons that the team has to be more ruthless and not let the game slip at crucial junctures.

"Extremely proud of the team. Going forward, we need to be ruthless," Masood said. 

"We were in a reasonable position twice. We could have extended the target while batting. We have pointed out things. We lost wickets in a cluster. We had them eight down twice in both the innings. 

"I am a huge believer in learning. We have to get over the line. We have to seize those moments. We have been making those same mistakes."

Pakistan will have a chance to level the series in the second Test in Cape Town, starting January 3.