South Africa on brink of maiden WTC triumph
London, June 13 (UNI) South Africa are on the verge of scripting history in the ICC World Test Championship Final, needing just 69 more runs to lift their maiden title after a commanding performance on Day 3 at Lord's on Friday, powered by a superb century from Aiden Markram and a courageous, unbeaten stand with an injured Temba Bavuma.
At stumps, the Proteas stood tall at 213 for 2 in pursuit of 288, with Markram batting on a flawless 102, his eighth Test hundred, and skipper Bavuma offering steadfast support with 65, despite clearly struggling with a hamstring injury picked up mid-innings. Their unbeaten 123-run partnership has not only blunted Australia's attack but brought South Africa to the cusp of a landmark victory.
Earlier in the day, Australia were bowled out for 207 in their second innings after resuming at 123 for 6. Mitchell Starc waged a lone battle, smashing a resilient 58 not out, and forging a crucial 59-run last-wicket stand with Josh Hazlewood (17), which helped stretch the lead to 287.
Australia struck an early blow in South Africa's chase when Starc removed Ryan Rickelton for six in the third over, reviving hopes of a collapse similar to the Proteas' first-innings effort. But Markram and Wiaan Mulder stitched together a composed 85-run partnership that stabilised the innings. Mulder contributed a useful 27 before falling to Starc, skying a catch to Marnus Labuschagne at cover.
From that point, it was all South Africa. Bavuma, despite his mobility being visibly limited due to the hamstring niggle, displayed exceptional grit and temperament. He rotated the strike intelligently and provided steadfast company to Markram, who was elegant and assured throughout his innings, peppering the boundary with exquisite timing and placement.
In a cruel blow to Australia, veteran batter Steve Smith was forced off the field and taken to hospital after suffering a compound dislocation to his right little finger. The injury occurred when he failed to hold on to a sharp catch at slip off Bavuma when the South African captain was on just two.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins rang in the changes, using six bowlers in an attempt to break the stubborn stand, but the pitch flattened and the bowlers ran out of ideas. The Proteas' composure under pressure stood in stark contrast to the Aussies' rising desperation.
As the sun set over Lord's, it was South Africa who were basking in control, poised to cap off a dominant World Test Championship cycle in which they won seven consecutive Tests to reach the final. Australia, on the other hand, face the prospect of missing out on becoming the first team to win back-to-back WTC titles since the tournament's inception in 2019.
With just 69 runs separating South Africa from Test cricket's ultimate prize, and eight wickets still in hand, Saturday could well mark a historic dawn for the Proteas. UNI BDN SSP
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