Aiden Markram steps up to be Proteas' 'man for the big occasion' at Lord's

Markram walked into bat after lunch on the third day with his team needing a 282-run target to become world champions in the longest format and break an infamous 27-year ICC trophy drought.

The 30-year-old, who was dismissed without scoring in the first innings, watched on as opening partner Ryan Rickelton was out early but it did not deter the stylish right-handed batter.

Markram cracked 11 fours and brought up his eighth, and most important, Test hundred in the penultimate over the day and, together with his captain Temba Bavuma (65 not out), took the Proteas to 213-2 at stumps, still needing further 69 runs to complete what would be a monumental and epic victory.

The milestone moment brought a huge roar from the heavy South African supporters contingent at the Home of Cricket with Markram visibly emotional and soaking up the atmosphere when reaching the milestone.

"We certainly know that he's someone for the big occasion," Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince told reporters at the post-play presser.

"He has done some technical work but not a lot. In the last little while, he has had a tendency to push his hands away from his body and cut across the ball but it was not a big fix and as soon as he saw a few videos, it was simple.

"When I talk about his ability to play big innings - albeit in a losing cause (against India) at Newlands on a very, very difficult pitch - he played an unbelievable innings.

"Everybody else was really struggling, and he got 100 on that surface. So we know what he's capable of."

The Proteas know the job at hand is not done with Markram and Bavuma looking to extend their 143-run partnership and win a trophy that could the landscape of South African cricket for the better.

What would have pleased Prince and the Proteas coaching staff is that two senior players in the skipper and his deputy stood up when the team needed them after being bundled out for just 138 in the first innings.