SA vs AUS | Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten century stand headline South Africa’s remarkable response

‌Australia continued their resilient batting display on day three of the World Test Championship 2025 final against South Africa at Lord’s which helped them to 144/8 from a precarious 73/7 in the last session of the previous day. Though they lost Nathan Lyon in the third over of the day, the last wicket pair of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood continued to frustrate the Proteas through the first session. The left-handed pair scored seven fours among them in an association that produced 59 off 135 balls, the most balls played by any partnership during the Aussie second innings. Starc completed his 11th fifty in Test cricket and remained unbeaten on 58 as Hazlewood was dismissed by Aiden Markram on the stroke of lunch. The Australian innings folded up for 207 to set the Proteas with a challenging total of 282 to get in the fourth innings.

South Africa had a dismal start to their run chase as opener Ryan Rickelton chased a wide outswinger from Starc to give an easy catch to Alex Carey in the third over with the score reading just nine. However, Markram found his touch at a crucial time and, along with Wiaan Mulder, ensured that the Proteas did not lose another early wicket as the pair put on 61 for the second wicket. But Starc once again created the breakthrough as Mulder was caught at cover with an uppish drive after facing 50 balls for his 27. The match would have gone down a different path had Steve Smith, at first slip, latched on to an easy chance from Temba Bavuma in Starc’s next over. But the South Africa skipper was fortunate as Smith dropped the chance and left the field with a dislocated finger with the side reaching 94/2 at tea.

With the sun shining brightly and conditions favourable for batting, apart from the odd ball that turned or bounced, Markram and Bavuma accelerated the scoring towards the second half of the last session as 58 runs came in the 11 overs between 34 and 45. In the process, both batters reached their respective half-centuries and completed the 100-run partnership for the third wicket with the target also coming down below 100. The body language of the Aussie fielders explained the session’s play as shoulders stopped drooping and players were just going through their motions. The final session of the day became even more special as Aiden Markram (102*) completed his eighth Test century, his first at Lord’s, to put his name on the honours’ board at the Mecca of Cricket. With Bavuma holding firm at the other end with a gritty 65, despite suffering from a hamstring injury, South Africa ended the day at 213/2, just 69 runs short of creating history.