Former England swashbuckling batter Kevin Pietersen lauded Aiden Markram after South Africa registered a five-wicket win against Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday. Markram was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, but he played a match-winning knock in the second essay.

The flamboyant batter scored a magnum opus knock of 136 runs off 207 balls to help his team get over the line in the run chase of 282. Pietersen tipped Markram’s knock as the most important innings played by any South African batter in their Test history.

“Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket. It might not go down as the most attacking or entertaining if you look back at South Africa’s Test history — but when you factor in the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary,” Pietersen said on JioHotstar.

“Whether you are a batter or a bowler, when your country is counting on you and you have to deliver — that pressure is immense. He lost Rickelton early, yet still went on to produce something truly magnificent. It’s hard to even describe the kind of pressure he was under,” he added.

On the other hand, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar also showered praise on the 30-year-old opening batter.

“Markram was the face of that belief. But what drives such performances is the camaraderie in the dressing room. When Markram asked Bavuma to stay with him at the crease no matter what, and Bavuma did just that — it shows the strength of their bond. In the end, these moments bring out a superhero — and today, that superhero was Markram, and deservedly so,” Bangar said.

Markram showed all the composure at the crease and looked in full control throughout his match-winning knock.