Markram and Bavuma seize control for South Africa
Media release
Aiden Markram’s superb century and 65 not out from Temba Bavuma helped South Africa seize control of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 and close in on a place in the history books.
In pursuit of 282, which currently stands as the second highest successful fourth innings chase in a Test at Lord’s, an unbroken third-wicket stand of 143 took the Proteas to the close on 213 for two, requiring a further 69 to be crowned champions.
Australia had earlier looked to hold the upper hand after Mitchell Starc’s gritty half-century extended their overnight lead, while the seamer later took the two South African wickets to fall.
But Markram, who will resume on 102, and Bavuma, dropped on two by Steve Smith, played brilliantly to raise South African hopes of a first ICC trophy since 1998.
The Proteas began the day needing to take the final two Australian wickets quickly and the first was not long in coming, Kagiso Rabada trapping Nathan Lyon lbw in the third over of the morning.
But it was a tale of frustration for the fielding side thereafter as Starc and Josh Hazlewood dug in.
Starc, dropped on 14 by Marco Jansen late the previous evening, repelled a flurry of short balls and soaked up pressure effectively with the field spread far and wide.
He took advantage of any loose deliveries, too, with five boundaries helping him to an 11th Test half-century as Australia’s final pair carried them to the brink of the lunch break.
The innings was eventually brought to a close when Hazlewood drove Markram to Keshav Maharaj at cover, leaving Starc unbeaten on 58 and ensuring South Africa would require 282 to be crowned champions.
Only West Indies in 1984 have chased more to win a Test on this ground and the Proteas’ start was inauspicious. As in the first innings, it was Starc who made the early breakthrough as Ryan Rickelton was tempted into a loose waft outside off stump and edged behind.
Markram and Wiaan Mulder settled any nerves in a confident second-wicket stand, taking their side past 50 in the 13th over and playing with an ambition lacking in the Proteas’ first innings.
Markram survived a heart-in-mouth moment on 23, nicking a Cummins delivery between ‘keeper and first slip, but there was no such luck for Mulder when he chipped Starc to cover, where Marnus Labuschagne took a routine catch.
In came captain Bavuma, who was soon straightened up by a short Starc delivery when he had just two runs to his name.
But Smith, close in under a helmet at second slip due to the number of edges that have not carried in this match so far, was unable to hold on to the chance and dislocated his finger in the process, forcing his removal from the field.
South Africa’s captain made the most of his let-off. He looked in discomfort almost throughout, a hamstring injury troubling him, but played a string of crisp drives in an accomplished partnership with Markram, who himself passed a 69-ball half century.
The opener grew in stature as his innings progressed, bisecting two boundary riders on the off-side with a beautiful cut off Starc shortly after his side has passed the halfway mark in their chase, as South Africa continued on a serene path entirely out of keeping with the frantic first three innings of the Final.
Bavuma offered a half chance with a slog sweep off Lyon which landed just in front of onrushing substitute fielder Sam Konstas, the ball trickling to the boundary to add insult to injury, and brought up his 83-ball half century shortly afterwards to rapturous applause.
The volume increased yet further in the penultimate over of the day as Markram reached three figures in style.
The opener, who spent 23 balls in the 90s, whipped Hazlewood to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up a terrific ton and will now have his sights set on seeing the job through in the morning.
Scores in brief
Australia v South Africa – ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, Lord’s – Day Three
Australia 212 all out in 56.4 overs (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49) and 207 in 65 overs (Mitchell Starc 58 not out, Alex Carey 43; Kagiso Rabada 4/59, Lungi Ngidi 3/38)
South Africa 138 all out in 57.1 overs (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6/28, Mitchell Starc 2/41) and 213/2 in 56 overs (Aiden Markram 102 not out, Temba Bavuma 65 not out; Mitchell Starc 2/53)
South Africa require 69 more runs to win with eight wickets remaining
ENDS