In a dramatic twist to the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Friday, captain Temba Bavuma—struggling with a hamstring injury—and centurion Aiden Markram propelled South Africa to the edge of a historic win over Australia.
Despite hobbling between the wickets, Bavuma combined with Markram in a superb unbeaten partnership of 143 runs, taking advantage of ideal batting conditions on day three. The pair’s effort left South Africa needing just 69 more runs to seal a memorable victory and claim their first ICC title in 27 years.
Chasing a target of 282, the Proteas closed the day on 213-2, mounting a spirited charge against one of the strongest bowling lineups Australia has ever fielded, which included four of their top ten all-time Test wicket-takers. Yet, the Australians struggled to make an impact — unable to separate the resilient duo and failing to claim a single wicket after tea.
The pitch at Lord’s had flattened out considerably by day three, making batting far more comfortable than on the previous two days, when 28 wickets fell in total. On Friday, only four fell, a significant shift that favored South Africa.
Still, caution lingered for South Africa, given their long-standing history of faltering in key ICC matches — their only global title to date being the ICC Knock Out in 1998. Batting coach Ashwell Prince acknowledged the pressure: “This would be massive for our country. We’ve come up short in white-ball tournaments before, even when we were favorites. History’s not on our side yet — we have to stay focused. Honestly, I’m not sure how I’m going to sleep tonight.”
Australia wasn’t giving up either. Allrounder Beau Webster remarked, “We’ll come back in the morning with a plan. Strange things happen in cricket. We tried a few things, but credit to their batters — they were flawless.”
At the start of the chase, Australia seemed in control. When Mitchell Starc removed Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder, South Africa was 70-2. But rather than collapse, the Proteas showed intent, rotating the strike effectively. Australia bowled just three maidens across 56 overs, all from spinner Nathan Lyon.
South Africa nearly lost their captain early — Bavuma, on 2, edged a delivery from Starc to first slip, where Steve Smith couldn’t complete the catch. Smith, fielding close due to poor carry to the slips, injured his right pinkie in the attempt and was ruled out of the rest of the final — and likely the West Indies tour as well.
Later, Bavuma tweaked his hamstring just before tea but chose to carry on. His grit was clear as he pushed through pain to reach his fifty off 83 balls, inspiring fans with every limping run.
Markram, meanwhile, was technically masterful, reaching 50 off 69 balls and continuing with poise. His eighth Test century, marked by a calm celebration and a bat raise, came just before stumps. The moment was capped off with a heartfelt hug from his captain.
South Africa’s strong finish on Friday the 13th was a far cry from their frustrating morning. Starting the day with Australia on 144-8, the Proteas expected to wrap up the innings quickly. Although Lyon fell early, giving Kagiso Rabada his ninth wicket of the match, tailenders Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood held firm for nearly two hours.
Starc notched his 11th Test fifty — his first in six years — and along with Hazlewood, forged a 59-run partnership that tied the all-time record for Australia’s tenth-wicket stands. Hazlewood was eventually dismissed for 17 by part-time bowler Markram, but Starc remained unbeaten on 58 from 136 balls. Coming in at 73-7, Starc, Carey, and Hazlewood had added 134 crucial runs.
That late surge, combined with 20 extras (including no-balls) from South Africa, made Australia appear out of reach. But Markram and Bavuma proved otherwise, turning the tide with resilience, skill, and timing that defied the odds and reignited South Africa’s dream of lifting a global trophy once more.
