Aiden Markram led the Proteas to a strong start before the West Indies fought back on the first day of the second Test in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took three wickets as South Africa ended their innings on 311 for seven, having fallen from a formidable 247 for two at tea.

Aiden Markram (96) and Tony de Zorzi (85) were primarily responsible for South Africa’s healthy position before the hosts began to struggle after the second half.

“It’s not just the four runs (for the century),” Markram said. “On that pitch I should have been looking at a really big score, 160 or 170.”

Markram, who scored 115 during South Africa’s 87-run victory in the first Test at Centurion, was in imperious form, hitting 17 fours off 139 deliveries.

He termed his dismissal, which occurred when he attempted an uncharacteristic scoop shot against Motie, a “brain fade.”

Markram and De Zorzi, in his second Test, added 116 runs off 164 deliveries.

Motie later bowled De Zorzi during a post-tea South African collapse in which five wickets and 62 runs were lost.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Markram said of his inexperienced teammate. “You need guys at number three who can apply themselves.”

Instead of considering the transition from first-class to Test cricket, the 25-year-old left-handed De Zorzi attempted to play as normally as possible.

“You have to do what got you here,” he said.

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