Emotional Maharaj dreaming of Lord's success for South Africa
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
And while Maharaj knows there is still work ahead before his team can celebrate, the left-armer believes victory in London will prove a decisive moment cricket in his country.
"It would mean everything," an emotional Maharaj told ICC Digital after South Africa reached 213/2 at stumps after three days of the Ultimate Test.
"Not just us (the players) out there or the fans here, but to everyone back home.
"To see how long it's taken for this country to hold some sort of ICC final trophy in their hands.
"I'm sorry, I'm getting a bit teary-eyed, but I think it would be a privilege to be a part of, because we faced a lot as our country.
"And to see it come, well not to get ahead, but to nearly get there is a very special feeling. So special."
Captain Bavuma overcomes pain to battle on for South Africa | WTC25 Final
With discomfort in his hamstring, Temba Bavuma continues to fight on for South Africa as they push for a historic win at Lord's.
If the Proteas can knock up the required runs for victory on Saturday and win their first ICC men's trophy since 1998 there will be plenty of people that played a major role in the success that has been led superbly by new coach Shukri Conrad.
Lion-hearted pacer Kagiso Rabada has led the way against Australia with nine wickets across the two innings, while Markram will also receive plenty of accolades following his flawless century on the third day at the Home of Cricket.
Markram notches a scintillating ton in the Ultimate Test | WTC25 Final
Aiden Markram caps off a brilliant outing on Day 3 with a century to remember at Lord's.
Markram is renowned as being a player that ups his game and rises to the big occasion and Maharaj admitted he could sense a big score coming from the talented right-hander.
"I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden's eyes today when he came off the field (prior to batting) as I think he wanted to rectify the mistake that he made in the first innings," Maharaj said.
"Kudos to him to put that into place. He's a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly.
"There's no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord's in a final against probably a team that I don't think they've ever lost a final."
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.
Maharaj also paid tribute to Bavuma, after his captain showed enormous determination to battle a hamstring injury and played a vital role in the unbeaten stand of 143 that has South Africa close to victory.
"He had a little bit of a niggle, but the warrior and fighter that he is was there with Aidan to support it," Maharaj said of Bavuma.
"It was amazing to hear how they complemented each other when they came off at the tea break, just hearing about how they're going to go about their business and understanding that obviously Temba can't run at full tilt, but Aiden embraced that."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
3 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
South Africa 69 runs away from winning World Test Championship
Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten century as South Africa edged tantalisingly close to an unlikely success in the World Test Championship final, needing 69 runs to dethrone Australia after reaching 213-2 at stumps on the third day at Lord's on Friday. It was a dramatic turnaround in a gripping contest where Australia set their opponents a daunting 282-run chase but South Africa made full use of an increasingly benign wicket to chip away at the target. Markram, on 102, and captain Temba Bavuma, 65 not out, will return on Saturday and look to wrap up victory after putting together the highest partnership of the match (143 not out) in pursuit of the joint second-highest winning total in test history at Lord's. Markram, who had failed to get to three figures in his previous 16 test innings, knocked the ball to all corners and was more than ably backed up by Bavuma, whose runs came despite a hamstring strain that hampered his running between the wickets. Australia will be regretting dropping him when he was on two, not only for the runs he went on to score but the fact that slip fielder Steve Smith suffered a compound dislocation of his little finger as he spilled the catch. Fortunes in the contest fluctuated through a furious opening two days, dominated by the bowlers with 24 wickets falling, but the wicket went flat on Friday and there were only four wickets taken. The Aussies resumed on 144-8 with a 218-run lead overnight and modest ambitions of adding 20 to 30 runs more in the morning. However, an unbeaten 58 from Mitchell Starc saw them bat for two hours until lunch to the frustration of South Africa before eventually being dismissed for 207 in their second innings. Nathan Lyon was dismissed in the third over of the day, trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada, but Starc and Josh Hazlewood put on a 59-run last wicket partnership before part-time bowler Markram finally dismissed Hazlewood for 17. South Africa came out to bat after lunch and saw Ryan Rickelton out for six runs as a full delivery from Starc, angling away from the left-hander, hit the toe of Rickelton's bat and flew up for a diving catch from wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Wiaan Mulder made a lively 27 before spooning the ball to cover where Marnus Labuschagne had an easy catch off Starc for the only other wicket to fall before Markram and Bavuma settled in for more than a session to offer their country hope of what had appeared an unlikely triumph.
Int'l Cricket Council
8 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
10 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
