Four of the six Australians combined to shoot 22-over in opening round of US Open at Oakmont
Cameron Smith's horror run at the majors in 2025 continued on the opening day of the US Open, failing to find a birdie as he was one of four Aussies combined to shoot 22-over par as Oakmont Country Club proved the 'brutal test' everyone expected.
Even world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who labelled the layout littered with thick, inches-high rough and slick greens the hardest US Open course ever, had six bogeys in a three-over 73 as only 10 players in the field finished under par.
Adam Scott, playing in his 96th straight major, avoided too much carnage and was two-under before finishing at even par, while Marc Leishman, in his first major since 2022, stumbled late in a one-over 71 to be the best Australians as their countrymen battled.
They are all chasing American JJ Spaun, who opened with a four-under 66, one of the 10 players in red figures.
That didn't include Smith, who missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA as the former world No.2 slipped to 176 on the rankings and could only manage five bogeys in an opening five-over 75 as questions continued to be asked about the impact of his move to LIV Golf.
The 2022 British Open champ has now missed the cut in three straight majors after also failing to make the weekend in last year's Open Championship.
Smith's best finish in a major since his move to the Saudi-backed league is fourth in the 2023 US Open.
But since finishing sixth at the 2024 Masters, Smith missed the top 30 at the two majors that followed before the three missed cuts.
Smith wasn't on his own battling the course, with 16 players shooting 80 or worse.
Min Woo Lee was also birdie-less in his seven-over 77, while Jason Day shot a six-over 76, which included a birdie, five bogeys and a double.
Cam Davis eked his way to a four-over 74 to stay closer to the leaders, giving the Aussie quartet 21 bogeys, two double-bogeys and just three birdies on a day where the world's best battled.
Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion who finished on three-over himself, labelled it a 'brutal test of golf'.
'I think the rough is incredibly penalising,' he said.
'Even for a guy like me, I can't get out of it some of the times, depending on the lie. It was tough. It was a brutal test of golf.'
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Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Australia v South Africa: Aiden Markram century powers Proteas towards victory
Australia is on the verge of experiencing what it's like to blow a World Cup final, as South Africa turned the tables of history when a sickening compound finger dislocation for Steve Smith proved decisive. South Africa is on track to not only win, but trample Australia, anchored by one of the great centuries in a final by opener Aiden Markram. That is provided they aren't overwhelmed by nerves when they wake up needing 69 runs to finally shake the biggest gorilla in world cricket off their backs. Markram (102 not out off 158 balls) raised his arms in triumph when he brought up triple figures with a boundary in the penultimate over of the day and embraced captain courageous Temba Bavuma (65 not out) with the pair demoralising Australia with a stunning unbeaten stand of 143. Pat Cummins and Australia are on the verge of being trampled by South Africa. Picture: Getty Images After being set an imposing 282 to reach the holy grail, South Africa is beautifully poised at 2-213, with eight wickets still in the shed with a battling Australia completely devoid of answers on day three. 'The hope for us is we need to get a wicket or two in the morning and see what that looks like,' Australian coach Daniel Vettori said as he praised the execution under pressure of Markram and Bavuma. 'But (needing) 8-69 is a real challenge for the group. 'There was some optimism (after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood half century stand set up the 282 target) but it's obviously going to be a real challenge tomorrow.' MORE: Steve Smith hospitalised after sickening finger injury South Africa's Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma embrace. Picture: AP Photo Smith's nasty finger injury has exacerbated the alarm bells ringing over the future of Australia's top order batting, and although conditions played into South Africa's hands on day three, Pat Cummins' team of career winners could blame no one but themselves for leaving the door ajar and then watching as the Proteas rode roughshod over them. Over the past 10 years, Australia has won two ODI World Cups a T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship Final, but their WTC title defence at Lord's looks set to go down as the one that got away unless a minor miracle unfolds on day four. Australia lost World Cup ODI Finals in 1975 and 1996, but the pain of failing to stand up on the biggest international stage – especially after leading healthily against a weaker opponent – is foreign territory for this team. When Smith dropped a crucial slip's catch and bone went through skin in the process, it ultimately proved the turning point as South African captain Bavuma took the life handed to him on 2 and turned it into one of the great skipper's knocks as he battled through a torn hamstring. For Australia the ramifications extend past it putting South Africa into prime position to break one of world sport's great hoodoos, with their No.1 batsman now in doubt for this month's three Test tour of the West Indies after being sent to hospital for x-rays although surgery was avoided. Aiden Markram celebrates his century. Picture: Getty Images Smith was standing in an advanced position just 14 metres behind the bat and under a helmet in an attempt to negate the lack of carry in the pitch, but when Mitchell Starc took a zinging edge from Bavuma it cannoned into Smith and popped out the little finger on his right hand before he could get in position. It would have been a regulation catch had Smith been standing back in a conventional position and South Africa would have been 3-74 with captain courageous Bavuma back in the sheds and Markram having to do the rest alongside one of the greenest middle-orders in cricket. Steve Smith reacts after being injured. Picture: AP Photo Instead Bavuma dug in and soldiered through in a colossal partnership with opener Markram who was simply outstanding and set the tone from the get go even though South Africa lost an early wicket in pursuit of the target of 282 to win, which would have been much lower if not for the half century final wicket stand of Mitchell Starc (58 not out) and Josh Hazlewood. Since 1999 when Steve Waugh's team clinched that extraordinary run-out to break South African hearts on the last ball of the World Cup semi-final, Australia has had a suffocating hold on the hapless Proteas in major international events. But the tables of history turned spectacularly on day three of the WTC Final, and it was Australia staring down the barrel of squandering a match against a weaker opponent which at various stages looked in their keeping. Without Starc and Josh Hazlewood (17) adding 59 off 135 balls – the highest 10th wicket partnership in ICC Finals' history – Australia would have been sliced and diced even sooner. Rather than crush the South Africans, the ease in which Australia's tail went about their business seem to fill Markram with confidence that batting had suddenly become easy in a match where 28 wickets had fallen across the first two days. The Australian target blowing out 63 runs on the morning of day three made little impact on the mindset of the superb Markram and the tenacious 162cm Bavuma, in fact it may have even emboldened them, as they shook off the stigma of choking they've carried for 35 years with a partnership of unwavering intent. What they have done has been truly extraordinary given only once before at Lord's has a team had to chase the biggest score of the match in the final innings to win the game. South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma celebrates his half-century. Picture: AP Photo So damaging in the first innings, Australia's quicks didn't look like taking a wicket for large portions of day three and perhaps they tired from having no red ball cricket under their belts. The post-mortem for Australia should be searing because this was quite simply a Final they should never have lost. Questions will be asked about the non-selection of Sam Konstas at the top of the order, and serious decisions now must be made over the future of Marnus Labuschagne and possibly even Usman Khawaja, if Australia is looking ahead to the Ashes as it must do. Mitchell Starc salutes the crowd after reaching his half century. Picture: Getty Images Smith's injury complicates matters because if he can't play the first Test in Barbados there is another place to fill and perhaps Labuschagne earns a reprieve. Australia is an ageing side and they were made to look old by South Africa who came to play with the kind of self-belief that's evaded them throughout its World Cup history. Starc struck with an early wicket but South Africa were not perturbed from their mission, and even when the Australian left-armer returned to send Wiaan Mulder packing, the Proteas remained resolute. The sight of Bavuma pinging his hamstring and yet hobbling on was an inspiring feat. Relive the action from day three of the WTC final below Originally published as Australia on verge of blowing World Test Championship final as Aiden Markram century powers South Africa
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
J Day back in business with fine US Open fightback
Jason Day has battled back into the picture at the US Open with a fine second round while American Sam Burns shot the lowest score of the week to leap into contention at fearsome Oakmont. Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a battling three-under 67 on Friday to get back to three over for the tournament - hovering around the top-20 and well inside a cut mark projected to be at seven over. Day's round was the second best among the early day-two starters but he was still eclipsed by Burns, who shot a five-under 65, which featured six birdies, one bogey and a key par save at his final hole - the ninth - to record the best round of the tournament. It left him heading to the clubhouse on three under, just one off the overnight lead held by fellow American who was among the later starters after his opening, bogey-free round of 66 on Thursday. Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards. He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 foot from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes. His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey. Burns, who shot a final-round 62 Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18. He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71, to be left at four over, but fellow luminaries Dustin Johnson (10 over) and Justin Thomas (12 over) will both miss the weekend. Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round, shooting a 75, including a double-bogey six at the ninth hole, to sit at six over. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys. A day after Patrick Reed recorded the fourth albatross in US Open annals, Frenchman Victor Perez made a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, the second ever ace during a US Open at Oakmont. But the demanding course was clearly getting to some of the players, with former champion Jon Rahm another left grumbling as he tumbled down the leaderboard after a 75 to sit on four over. "Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," the Spaniard said. "Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating." With agencies Jason Day has battled back into the picture at the US Open with a fine second round while American Sam Burns shot the lowest score of the week to leap into contention at fearsome Oakmont. Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a battling three-under 67 on Friday to get back to three over for the tournament - hovering around the top-20 and well inside a cut mark projected to be at seven over. Day's round was the second best among the early day-two starters but he was still eclipsed by Burns, who shot a five-under 65, which featured six birdies, one bogey and a key par save at his final hole - the ninth - to record the best round of the tournament. It left him heading to the clubhouse on three under, just one off the overnight lead held by fellow American who was among the later starters after his opening, bogey-free round of 66 on Thursday. Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards. He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 foot from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes. His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey. Burns, who shot a final-round 62 Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18. He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71, to be left at four over, but fellow luminaries Dustin Johnson (10 over) and Justin Thomas (12 over) will both miss the weekend. Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round, shooting a 75, including a double-bogey six at the ninth hole, to sit at six over. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys. A day after Patrick Reed recorded the fourth albatross in US Open annals, Frenchman Victor Perez made a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, the second ever ace during a US Open at Oakmont. But the demanding course was clearly getting to some of the players, with former champion Jon Rahm another left grumbling as he tumbled down the leaderboard after a 75 to sit on four over. "Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," the Spaniard said. "Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating." With agencies Jason Day has battled back into the picture at the US Open with a fine second round while American Sam Burns shot the lowest score of the week to leap into contention at fearsome Oakmont. Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a battling three-under 67 on Friday to get back to three over for the tournament - hovering around the top-20 and well inside a cut mark projected to be at seven over. Day's round was the second best among the early day-two starters but he was still eclipsed by Burns, who shot a five-under 65, which featured six birdies, one bogey and a key par save at his final hole - the ninth - to record the best round of the tournament. It left him heading to the clubhouse on three under, just one off the overnight lead held by fellow American who was among the later starters after his opening, bogey-free round of 66 on Thursday. Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards. He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 foot from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes. His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey. Burns, who shot a final-round 62 Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18. He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71, to be left at four over, but fellow luminaries Dustin Johnson (10 over) and Justin Thomas (12 over) will both miss the weekend. Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round, shooting a 75, including a double-bogey six at the ninth hole, to sit at six over. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys. A day after Patrick Reed recorded the fourth albatross in US Open annals, Frenchman Victor Perez made a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, the second ever ace during a US Open at Oakmont. But the demanding course was clearly getting to some of the players, with former champion Jon Rahm another left grumbling as he tumbled down the leaderboard after a 75 to sit on four over. "Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," the Spaniard said. "Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating." With agencies Jason Day has battled back into the picture at the US Open with a fine second round while American Sam Burns shot the lowest score of the week to leap into contention at fearsome Oakmont. Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a battling three-under 67 on Friday to get back to three over for the tournament - hovering around the top-20 and well inside a cut mark projected to be at seven over. Day's round was the second best among the early day-two starters but he was still eclipsed by Burns, who shot a five-under 65, which featured six birdies, one bogey and a key par save at his final hole - the ninth - to record the best round of the tournament. It left him heading to the clubhouse on three under, just one off the overnight lead held by fellow American who was among the later starters after his opening, bogey-free round of 66 on Thursday. Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards. He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 foot from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes. His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey. Burns, who shot a final-round 62 Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18. He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71, to be left at four over, but fellow luminaries Dustin Johnson (10 over) and Justin Thomas (12 over) will both miss the weekend. Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round, shooting a 75, including a double-bogey six at the ninth hole, to sit at six over. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys. A day after Patrick Reed recorded the fourth albatross in US Open annals, Frenchman Victor Perez made a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth, the second ever ace during a US Open at Oakmont. But the demanding course was clearly getting to some of the players, with former champion Jon Rahm another left grumbling as he tumbled down the leaderboard after a 75 to sit on four over. "Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," the Spaniard said. "Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating." With agencies
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Australia on the ropes in Test final after Markram ton
Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Australia's golden run in global finals is all but over as South Africa close in on a landmark World Test Championship title at Lord's. In a dramatic decider that's had multiple twists a day, a brilliant Aiden Markram century, in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no), means South Africa need just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand on Saturday to seal a famous victory. Set 282 to win, the Proteas piled on 0-119 in the final session on Friday to be 2-213 - already the highest total of the match - by stumps on day three. The first two days were dominated by bowlers as 28 wickets tumbled, but the pitch flattened out during glorious sunny weather in London. Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. Since the first World Cup back in 1975, Australia's record in global finals is 8-3. "We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years. "There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. "To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. "It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero. It would be fitting if Markram (102 no) could lead them to the glory, having captained the Proteas' first under-19 World Cup win in 2014. South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the trajectory of this WTC final changed once Smith put down Bavuma when the Proteas skipper was on just two. Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have had South Africa at 3-76. Smith immediately left the field in agony, later revealed to be a compound fracture of the little finger on his right hand. The 36-year-old will take no further part in the match and is in serious doubt to play in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004. In 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 for the loss of just one wicket against England at the famous ground. Bavuma, who had the pro-South African crowd singing his name, has battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single. The 35-year-old received medical attention before and during the tea interval, with the captain even considering not returning after the break, but he batted on while limping as he ran between the wickets. Evergreen quick Starc (2-53) has claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up an important knock on Friday morning. Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's lower-order lasted 119 minutes and added another 78 in a sign of how much easier batting had become. No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch. Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43). He faced more balls (136) than any other Australia batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one. Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time. "It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch. It appears as if he'll get his wish. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
