Australia vs South Africa WTC Final: Markram and Bavuma Steer Proteas Toward Historic Glory on Day 3
In a gripping encounter at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, South Africa edged closer to their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title on Day 3 of the final against Australia. The Proteas finished the day at 213-2 in their second innings, needing just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand to complete what could be the second-highest successful run chase in Lord’s history. Leading the charge were Aiden Markram, with a masterful unbeaten 102, and captain Temba Bavuma, who battled a hamstring injury to score a valiant 65 not out.
The day was a testament to South Africa’s determination to shed their tag of perennial underachievers in ICC finals. With an unbroken 143-run partnership between Markram and Bavuma, the Proteas have put themselves in a commanding position to chase down the target of 282. The highest successful chase at Lord’s remains 344 by the West Indies in 1984, a record that South Africa now eyes with growing confidence. For a team that last tasted ICC glory in the 1998 ICC Knockout, this could be a defining moment in their cricketing history.
Markram was the star of the day, showcasing both aggression and composure to notch up his eighth Test century in just 84 innings. His knock included 11 boundaries, with a particularly memorable straight drive off Josh Hazlewood to move to 97, followed by a punch through midwicket to reach the three-figure mark. Bavuma, despite visible discomfort from a hamstring injury, played with elegance and grit, reaching his fifty off 83 balls. His lucky escape on 43, when a slog-sweep off Nathan Lyon fell just short of substitute fielder Sam Konstas at deep midwicket, only added to the drama of the session.
Australia, the defending WTC champions, fought hard but were left ruing missed opportunities. Mitchell Starc was their standout performer, contributing with both bat and ball. Earlier in the day, Starc’s unbeaten 58 helped Australia post 207 in their second innings, forging a crucial 59-run last-wicket stand with Hazlewood. With the ball, he dismissed Ryan Rickelton for 6 and Wiaan Mulder for 27, but a dropped catch by Steve Smith off Bavuma at slip—followed by Smith leaving the field with a finger injury—proved costly. Lyon’s spin posed questions, with Markram surviving a close call on a sharply turning off-break that eluded wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The day had begun with South Africa asserting dominance as Kagiso Rabada struck early, trapping Nathan Lyon lbw to leave Australia at 148-9. Rabada’s match haul of 9 wickets, including 4-59 in the second innings, underlined his status as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. However, Starc and Hazlewood’s resilience delayed the inevitable before Markram, with his part-time spin, dismissed Hazlewood to wrap up the innings.
Under sunny skies, the batting conditions at Lord’s improved significantly as the early moisture on the pitch dissipated. Markram capitalized with aggressive strokeplay, dispatching Pat Cummins for boundaries through punches and pulls, while Bavuma’s elegant drives down the ground showcased his class despite physical limitations.
As Day 4 looms, South Africa stand on the cusp of history, but the ghosts of past ICC final disappointments linger. Can they hold their nerve against a resilient Australian side that has a knack for pulling off miracles? With Markram and Bavuma at the crease, and a target within touching distance, the Proteas have never been closer to rewriting their cricketing legacy. For Australia, the challenge is clear—early wickets on the fourth morning could yet turn the tide in this thrilling WTC Final.