Markram century has South Africa on cusp of creating history
A century from Aiden Markram and an equally important half-century from Temba Bavuma has the Proteas in a dominant position in the Ultimate Test.
Markram, Bavuma guide SA within touching distance of glory | Day 3 Highlights | WTC25 Final
After bundling out Australia in the first session, South Africa finish Day 3 only 69 runs away from a historic triumph with eight wickets in hand.
By Jonathan Healy, at Lord's
South Africa are closing in on victory in the ICC World Test Championship Final after they dominated the majority of the third day's play against Australia at Lord's on Friday.
The Proteas reached 213/2 at stumps, with opener Aiden Markram (102*) and skipper Temba Bavuma (65*) at the crease and a further 69 runs required for victory.
Aiden Markram scores crucial century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
South Africa opener Aiden Markram took on the Australia attack and scored a crucial century on Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's.
The pair have batted superbly, with Markram in particular showing his class with his eighth Test century and Bavuma playing the perfect support role despite being badly hampered by a dodgy hamstring.
South Africa dismissed Australia for 207 in their second innings during the opening session on Friday, with Mitchell Starc (58 not out) catapulting the Aussies towards a lead of almost 300 following an enterprising partnership of 59 for the 10th wicket with Josh Hazlewood (17).
Starc produces gritty half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
Mitchell Starc put on a resilient display against an in-form Proteas pace-bowling unit to help the defending champions to a 281-run lead.
The victory target was 282 and when Starc removed Ryan Rickelton for just six in the third over of the chase it looked like Australia were going to skittle the Proteas with ease just like they did in the first innings.
But Wiaan Mulder (27) batted well alongside Markram until he misjudged a drive from Starc and picked out Marnus Labuschagne at cover, before Bavuma joined the party and used his experience to guide the Proteas' chase despite picking up a hamstring injury while batting.
It wasn't the only injury sustained on a hot day in north London, with Australia veteran Steve Smith sent to hospital after he suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger when he grassed a difficult chance provided by Bavuma in slip when the South African captain was on just two.
Steve Smith forced off the field injured | WTC25 Final
Australia talisman Steve Smith sustained a nasty blow on Day 3 at Lord's and walked off the field in discomfort.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins tried valiantly to break the stand between Markram and Bavuma, with the Aussies utilising six bowlers throughout the Proteas' innings in an attempt to obtain the momentum that has swung greatly between the two sides across the first three days.
But Markram and Bavuma remained unmoved, with the pair showing great concentration throughtout their unbeaten stand to bring South Africa within striking distance of victory and a first World Test Championship mace.
Markram cuts with supreme precision | WTC25 Final
Aiden Markram plays a delightful cut shot to keep the momentum going for South Africa on Day 3.
The match ends what has been a gripping World Test Championship cycle, where the Proteas won seven straight Test matches to seal their spot in the decider, while Australia are looking to become the first team to claim back-to-back championships, with the concept commencing in 2019.
South Africa XI: 1. Aiden Markram, 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. Wiaan Mulder, 4. Temba Bavuma (c), 5. Tristan Stubbs, 6. David Bedingham, 7. Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Australia XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
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