South Africa is on the verge of a momentous triumph at the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, thanks to a dazzling century from Aiden Markram and a gutsy, unbeaten knock by injured captain Temba Bavuma.

Chasing 282 for victory at Lord’s, what would be the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase in the storied venue’s history, South Africa ended Day 3 in commanding control at 213 for 2, needing just 69 more runs with eight wickets in hand.

Markram’s 102* was a masterclass in balance, patience, and shot selection. He reached the milestone in the second-to-last over of the day, working Josh Hazlewood through midwicket to notch what he called “one of the best hundreds” of his career. It was his eighth Test ton, but the stakes and the pressure made it his most memorable.

“I went out there with no fear of failure,” Markram said after play. “We had a clear plan—to stay positive and put away anything loose. It’s a privilege to be part of something like this.”

At the other end, Bavuma battled through visible discomfort from a hamstring injury to deliver one of the most courageous performances of his career. Dropped early by Steve Smith—who left the field after dislocating a finger in the attempt—Bavuma steadied himself and played with steely determination. His unbeaten 65 came off 83 deliveries and featured elegant drives and relentless focus.

Australia had begun the day with a slim edge after Mitchell Starc’s resilient 58* pushed their second-innings total to 207. Starc also took both South African wickets to fall, dismissing Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder to leave the Proteas at 70 for 2.

But from that moment on, it was all South Africa. The third-wicket stand between Markram and Bavuma, worth 143 and counting—was built on discipline and class, a stark contrast to the collapse-prone innings that characterized the first two days of this see-saw Final.

The pitch at Lord’s flattened out considerably on Day 3, making life easier for the batters. Australia’s attack, so relentless in previous sessions, lacked creativity as the day wore on. Pat Cummins, usually known for his tactical ingenuity, looked out of rhythm and short of ideas in the final session.

A ball change late in the day—often a turning point in tight games—failed to produce any breakthroughs. With Nathan Lyon yet to make an impact, Australia will be desperate for early wickets on Day 4. They’ll need two within the first half-hour to have any realistic shot at flipping the script.

But with the momentum squarely behind South Africa, history is within reach. If the Proteas manage to pull this off, it will mark their first major ICC title since the 1998 Champions Trophy and only the second time a team has chased more than 282 to win a Test at Lord’s—trailing only the legendary 1984 West Indies team.

It’s South Africa’s game to lose. And with Markram and Bavuma at the crease, it’s hard to imagine them letting it slip.

Day 3 Recap – ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, Lord’s

Australia: 212 all out (Webster 72, Smith 66; Rabada 5/51) & 207 all out (Starc 58*, Carey 43; Rabada 4/59, Ngidi 3/38)
South Africa: 138 all out (Bedingham 45, Bavuma 36; Cummins 6/28) & 213/2 (Markram 102*, Bavuma 65*; Starc 2/53)
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]