South Africa’s stand-in skipper Aiden Markram etched his name among the country’s batting greats on Monday, crossing the 3,000-run milestone in Test cricket during the opening Test against Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Needing just seven runs to reach the landmark, the stylish right-hander ticked it off early in his innings as South Africa began their reply to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 378.

The 31-year-old achieved the feat in his 47th Test appearance, becoming the 18th South African batter to breach the 3,000-run mark — a testament to his consistency and class in the longest format.

Since making his debut in 2017, Markram has been a pillar of reliability in South Africa’s red-ball setup, with eight centuries and 13 fifties to his credit. His elegant stroke play and ability to perform in testing conditions have made him one of the most dependable top-order batters of his generation.

When it comes to South Africa’s all-time greats, Jacques Kallis remains untouchable at the top with 13,206 runs in 165 Tests — the only South African to surpass the 10,000-run mark. He’s followed by Hashim Amla (9,282 runs in 124 matches) and Graeme Smith (9,253 runs in 116 matches).

At the time of writing, South Africa were 38 without loss in 10 overs, with Markram and Ryan Rickelton looking composed at the crease. The visitors trail by 340 runs after dismissing Pakistan for 378 earlier in the day — thanks largely to a superb six-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy.

Markram’s latest milestone adds another feather to his cap — and offers yet another reminder of why he remains central to South Africa’s Test ambitions.