WTC Final: Markram's unbeaten 102, Bavuma's half-century put South Africa on cusp of championship glory
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A magnificent hundred by Aiden Markram and a patient half-century by the South African skipper Temba Bavuma have put the Proteas in the driving seat in the ICC World Test Championship Final being played at Lord's in England's capital city, London, on Friday.Markram rose to the occasion and scored 102 not out, taking South Africa within 69 runs of a historic triumph in the ICC World Test Championship. South Africa ended the third day's play at 213/2 in 56 overs in the finalAfter Australia's second innings ended at 207, posting a target of 282 for Temba Bavuma's side to chase, Mitchell Starc made early inroads in the South African batting lineup, picking up two wickets.Following early hiccups in the second innings, the Proteas fought back with Markram and Bavuma showing poise and stitching an unbroken 143-run stand for the third wicket.With conditions being the best for batting, right-handed batter Markram looked rock solid throughout the innings, slamming his eighth Test century off 156 deliveries in the fag end of the day.On the other hand, skipper Temba Bavuma scored 65 not out off 121 balls, despite tweaking his left hamstring and hobbling to complete his runs before the tea break.With Markram and Bavuma showing poise, precision, and authority in amassing runs while complementing each other, the duo have ensured that South Africa are on the cusp of glory on day four.Earlier in the day, as the play resumed on Day 3, Starc, who was dropped on 14 in the final over of day two's play, was at his resolute best to take the lead past 280 while sharing a 59-run last-wicket partnership with an equally solid Josh Hazlewood.For South Africa, who bowled 22 extras, including 10 no-balls, Kagiso Rabada picked 4-59, while Lungi Ngidi returned with figures of 3-38. Resuming day three from 144/8, Rabada struck by trapping Nathan Lyon lbw, with the ball tracking showing the ball would hit the top of the leg stump.Starc and Hazlewood were largely untroubled by pacers. The duo getting four quick boundaries meant Australia's lead went past 250. The Starc-Hazlewood duo managed to put on the highest tenth-wicket partnership for any team in a men's ICC championship final.Starc then got his 11th Test fifty in the 64th over by flashing at one outside off-stump from Marco Jansen and got a streaky boundary, which also brought up Australia's 200 as well. SouthStarc struck early by swinging one away from Ryan Rickelton, who tried to drive through cover, but he could only nick behind to Alex Carey.The left-arm pacer delivered another breakthrough for Australia by coming from around the wicket and forcing Mulder to hit straight to Marnus Labuschagne at cover, who grabbed a good, low catch. The pacer could have gotten Bavuma in the 20th over when the South African skipper was squared up and the ball flew to Steve Smith at wide first slip. But Smith couldn't grab the catch and was left in pain. After the drop there was no looking back for Markram and Bavuma, as the duo managed to build a partnership for the third wicket.With boundaries flowing off Markram's bat and Bavuma also chipping in with some drives, it meant there was no stopping South Africa, as the South African skipper brought up his 29th Test fifty in 83 balls. Markram continued to be pristine by punching Nathan Lyon, dabbing late off Beau Webster, and unfurling a beautiful straight drive off Hazlewood. Markram reached a century by flicking Hazlewood through mid-wicket, and the crowd cheered for him.Australia 212 and 207 in 65 overs (Mitchell Starc 58, Alex Carey 43; Kagiso Rabada 4-59, Lungi Ngidi 3-38) lead South Africa 138 and 213/2 in 56 overs (Aiden Markram 102 not out, Temba Bavuma 65 not out; Mitchell Starc 2-53) by 69 runs.
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