LIVE: All eyes on Lord's for Day 3 of WTC25 Final
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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Int'l Cricket Council
2 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Smith lauds South Africa spirit in Lord's WTC25 Final tussle
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. Needing just a further 69 runs to win, the Proteas will continue on Day 4 through Aiden Markram (102 not out) and Temba Bavuma (65 not out), having already put on 143 runs in their third-wicket partnership. Speaking on ICC's Digital Daily alongside Crystal Arnold upon the close of day three, Smith paid tribute to the work of the Proteas, led by his modern contemporary in Bavuma. 'We've seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match," Smith began. "The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game. 'It's been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you've seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface. 'And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma). 'Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying 'extend that partnership, extend that partnership'. 'And that's what they've done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship." 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 on the whole look unflustered even in the cauldron of a World Test Championship Final at Lord's, with Markram's century stealing Day 3 headlines. Smith felt Markram would hold the key in the chase, with his natural free-scoring flow coming to the fore. 'I actually picked him at the start of this innings. I said, 'If South Africa are going to go on to do this, he's the man' because he scores. He takes the game on and you'll keep the scoreboard ticking all the time. And he's certainly done that today. 'It's an occasion like this to see him own it and to perform. Coming off a nought in the first innings, coming out second innings under pressure. 'The performance that he put in, (it) was incredible to watch right from the get-go. He looked at good positions. He had one punch of the back foot. You thought, 'Okay, the man's here today.' 'Him and Temba will be feeling drained tonight. They still have got 69 to get. But I think tonight it's important to celebrate a great partnership and an incredible hundred." Bavuma and Markram thump cracking straight drives | WTC25 Final Skipper Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram continue taking the attack to Australia on Day 3 with some scintillating stroke play. Bavuma himself went above and beyond in his side's pursuit, building the stand alongside his partner in spite of leaving runs out in the middle, having been hampered by a hamstring struggle early in his innings. Having been the rock so often in South Africa's batting pursuit throughout the World Test Championship cycle, the effort was no surprise to Smith watching on from the commentary box. 'It was always important. Temba's been I think South Africa's most consistent batter, he's looked in control. First over he obviously felt good, went up and over cover, and obviously battling the injury as well. 'And I think we mustn't underestimate that he's fought on through a sore hamstring, and really putting his country first and building that partnership with Markram. 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. Smith kept a close eye on South Africa's opposition in the field, largely bereft in answers as the batting pair pressed on. The former skipper believes there was little Australia could have changed in response, though did feel a number of defensive fieldsets allowed South Africa to carry on, even with Bavuma impeded. 'I think the attack did everything they could. Maybe (Nathan) Lyon could have been a touch wider into the rough a bit more. 'He (Australian captain Pat Cummins) had quite a defensive field at times with point back and square-leg back. And I think especially with Temba's injury, they maybe needed to force the play a little bit when they still needed 150 runs to get. 'But other than that I think you have to give credit to the South Africans. I mean, I don't want to take away from their performance, today with Aiden and Temba in particular was outstanding." Proteas' Relentless Leader | Graeme Smith | ICC Hall of Fame A fearless leader who epitomises grit and resilience. Graeme Smith - a pillar of South African cricket and a leader like no other. Smith has kept a close eye on the South African setup through different roles after calling time on his international career in 2014, including a stint as director of cricket at Cricket South Africa from 2019 to 2022. Looking at the team of 2025, Smith paid tribute to a group of players who have buckled down on a quest to lift the World Test Championship mace. 'I think we've fought extremely hard over the last two to three years to really build South African cricket up again, from various people have got involved and see the team performing well on the global stage. "Everyone wrote South Africa off before this game, disappointed South Africa were in the final. "And now they sit on the brink of an opportunity to win that Final against a great Australian team. "I think this will really lift the game again in South Africa - Temba holding the mace and what that will mean for the people back home."
Int'l Cricket Council
4 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Prince hails centurion Markram but says South Africa must ‘stay calm'
Ashwell Prince labelled Aiden Markram the 'man for the big occasion' after the opener steered South Africa towards a famous run chase in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025. Chasing 282 to win, South Africa are 213 for two at the end of day three thanks to a majestic century from Markram and gutsy 65 not out from captain Temba Bavuma. South Africa need just 69 more runs to become champions and while Australia will refuse to give up hope of a remarkable comeback, the Proteas are firmly in the driving seat as they bid for a first ICC trophy in 27 years. Markram struck 11 fours in an unbeaten 102, bringing up his eighth Test ton with a gorgeous flick through mid-wicket in the penultimate over of the day. He struggled to contain his emotions, wiping tears away from his eyes, and batting coach Prince said a small technical adjustment was the secret to his success. 'We certainly know he is someone for the big occasion, of that there is no doubt,' the former middle-order batter said. 'He has done some technical work but not a lot. In the last little while, he has had a tendency to push his hands away from his body and cut across the ball but it was not a big fix and as soon as he saw a few videos, it was simple. 'Albeit in a losing cause at Newlands, on a difficult pitch, he played an unbelievable innings against India last year and scored a ton on that surface – so we know what he is capable of. 'I think [coach] Shukri Conrad deserves credit for staying calm, it is one of his strengths. 'As soon as Aidan and Temba came up the stairs, he said we need to do the same tonight as we always do and tomorrow we do the same warm-up. It's the same processes. We understand the magnitude and what's at stake but now we stay calm.' It didn't always appear to be South Africa's day. They started Friday morning seeking two quick Australian wickets to leave the target as low as possible, but – despite Kagiso Rabada trapping Nathan Lyon lbw early – Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dug in. They put on 59 for the 10th wicket and batted for the entire morning session, with Hazlewood finally out to the last ball before lunch to leave the target at 282. From there, it was all South Africa. While Australia benefited from benign conditions on a flat pitch to convert 144 for eight into 207 all out under the morning sun, it was the Proteas' turn for the rest of the day. Starc removed Ryan Rickelton for six but a 63-run partnership between Markram and Wiaan Mulder settled the nerves, with runs flowing amid regular boundaries. A sharp Marnus Labuschagne catch sent Mulder back to the pavilion for 27, while Steve Smith dropped Bavuma on two – and dislocated his finger in the process, earning him a trip to hospital for the rest of the day. However, after that scare, Bavuma oozed class despite damaging his hamstring in the afternoon session. Prince admits they considered retiring him during the tea interval but the captain insisted he could carry on and he hit five boundaries in a 121-ball knock. 'It is not done yet but he has had to fight throughout his career and this could be a defining moment for his career,' Prince added. 'It is the biggest stage in Test cricket. He is tough, Aiden has great respect for Temba and I think this team's greatest asset is the unity. 'You only have to look at how they celebrate a wicket to understand that. They are all aware that South Africa have had greater individual players but they have something special going on in the dressing room and it helps them drag each other along.' While 69 runs is not an intimidating number of runs to score, keeping South Africa's batters level-headed is now the challenge. Much has been made of their record in ICC tournaments – they have come close to adding to their ICC Men's Champions Trophy 1998 success on many occasions but always fallen short – but this is their greatest opportunity of breaking the duck. 'I don't know how I will sleep tonight,' Prince joked. 'I felt the message has been the same throughout. We just want to make them believe that they can do it and then step out the way and allow them to do it.' ENDS
Int'l Cricket Council
4 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Vettori: Australia not giving up hope
Daniel Vettori insists Australia have not given up hope of retaining their ICC World Test Championship 2025 crown after South Africa finished the third day at Lord's in a commanding position. The Proteas, who finished on 213 for two, closed to within 69 runs of victory thanks to a superb unbeaten hundred from opener Aiden Markram after Australia had earlier set a target of 282 runs for victory. Markram, alongside captain Temba Bavuma (65 not out), put on an unbroken stand of 143 for the third wicket which broke the back of what would be the joint second-highest successful run chase at the Home of Cricket. And although Australia now face an uphill challenge on day four, Vettori knows the players will take their attempted fightback one step at a time and not look too far ahead into the future. 'There's no desire to get ahead of ourselves,' the assistant coach said. 'One wicket, that's the starting point. And because these two [Markram and Bavuma] are in such control, if we can get a new batsman to the crease, then that's the start of it [getting back into the game]. 'I don't think there will be any thinking about how to get eight dismissals. It will be simply about getting one and seeing what can happen from there.' Pat Cummins' side started the day on 144 for eight and appeared to have gained the upper hand thanks to Mitchell Starc's gritty half-century – his 11th in the format - having been dropped by Marco Jansen on 14 the previous evening. The fast bowler then took the two South African wickets to fall, having Ryan Rickelton caught behind for six before seeing the back of Wiaan Mulder – caught in the covers by Marnus Labuschagne for 27 – after a half-century second-wicket stand with Markram. At 70 for two, the game was evenly poised, but the exploits of Markram and Bavuma slowly swung the pendulum in the Proteas' favour and Vettori was quick to acknowledge the importance of their efforts. 'Under those conditions, Markram and Bavuma were exceptional,' he continued. 'They were able to navigate their way through any tricky situation and then be able to put pressure back on us at the most opportune time. 'It was a pretty benign wicket and obviously conditions weren't assisting the ball, but that partnership was exceptional.' Steve Smith left the field of play during South Africa's innings with what turned out to be a compound dislocation of the little finger on his right hand after dropping Bavuma in the slips off Starc's bowling while the batter was on two. 'He never made it to us in the dressing room,' he added. 'I think the doc and the physio got a hold of him and took him to a separate room, so they had to deal with that. 'We weren't really up to speed in terms of how gruesome the injury was. We just heard there had been a compound dislocation, something of that nature. 'There weren't too many people running to have a look. We'll just wait and see what the news is when he comes back from hospital and then everyone will be updated from there.' ENDS
