The 28-year-old Markram was teary eyed after reaching his sixth Test century in a triumphant return after being dropped for the three-Test series in Australia at the turn of the year.
Acentury from South Africa nature Aiden Markram helped pile on the early runs on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion on Tuesday, only for the West Indies to fight its way back into the contest and have its hosts 314- 8 at close of play.
An emotional Markram celebrated his recall to the Test side with a 115- run knock after the home side had won the toss and tagged to club, contending to 99- 0 at lunch and 221- 1 before the excursionists bounced back with seven lattices in the evening session.
The 28- time-old Markram was teary eyed after reaching his sixth Test century in a triumphant return after being dropped for the three- Test series in Australia at the turn of the time.
Markram put on 141 for the first gate with Dean Elgar, who signed off the disappointment of being stripped of the captaincy and hit 71 before Jermaine Blackwood’s springing catch had him snared off Alzarri Joseph.
South Africa advanced to 206- 1 at tea and was on 221 when debutant Tony de Zorzi was needlessly run out after a case 28. West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva showed some deft hand work to catch him short and claim the alternate gate.
New Test captain Temba Bavuma, taking over from Elgar after South Africa lost poorly in Australia, followed two balls latterly after being trapped leg before gate by Joseph, who also had Markram clean sailed as he slipped in a speedy yorker.
Markram faced 174 balls and hit 18 fours in a determined innings on his home ground after a recall from new trainer Shukri Conrad, who’s also now the only chooser in a revamp of the South Africa Test side.
Joseph was the pick of the bowlers and finished the day on 3- 60, but there were also lattices late in the day for others in the bowling line- up.
Shannon Gabriel banged in a ball that rushed onto Heinrich Klaasen and saw him mistime his shot to be caught for 20 while Kemar Roach trapped Senuran Muthusamy lbw for three.
Keegan Petersen was the last recognised batsmen to go, lbw to Kyle Mayers for 14.
Kagiso Rabada also nicked Jason Holder to Blackwood at alternate slip for eight, meaning South Africa had lost their last seven lattices for 79 runs.
Marco Jansen and debutant bowler George Coetzee were unbeaten when bad light stopped play. Know More Test Cricket News….
