Hobbling captain Temba Bavuma and centurion Aiden Markram pushed South Africa to the brink of a sensational victory over Australia in a gripping World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Friday.
Bavuma, elevating the drama with a strained left hamstring, and opener Markram partnered for an unbroken 143 runs against one of Australia’s greatest bowling attacks to have South Africa 69 runs from an historic triumph.
Chasing 282 to win, the Proteas were 213-2 at stumps on day three in a stirring bid to win a first ICC trophy in 27 years.
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Aiden Markram produces a century on day three of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia as he puts his country in a strong position going into day four.
Bavuma was 65 not out, his running restricted but not his batting technique, and Markram was 102 not out, easily the highest individual score of the final.
Australia had resumed the day on 144 for eight and set the Proteas what would be the second-highest Test victory chase at Lord’s – 282 – after Mitchell Starc’s unbeaten 58 had lifted his side to 207 all out.
Starc followed up his earlier heroics with the bat by removing South Africa’s first two wickets, to leave the Proteas on 70 for two in the 18th over.
Left-handed opener Ryan Rickelton was caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for six, to leave South Africa on 9-1.
Wiaan Mulder helped steady the ship, hitting five fours in his 27 and sharing in a 61-run partnership for the second wicket before gifting a simple catch to Marnus Labuschagne at cover, having helped South Africa on to 70.
The Proteas reached tea at 94-2, requiring another 188 for victory, with opener Markram unbeaten on 49 and Bavuma on 11 not out.
Markram notched a single after play resumed to bring up his half-century off 69 deliveries as the pair kept chipping away at their victory target.
Smith suffers compound dislocation
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Steve Smith is forced to leave the field with a suspected dislocated finger after he drops a catch from Aiden Markram’s edge
Australia’s Steve Smith was out of the action after suffering a compound dislocation of his little finger when dropping Bavuma at slip and Bavuma defied a hamstring injury to bring up his half-century with a single in the 44th over.
A boundary from Markram in the 45th lifted South Africa to 184-2, bringing their target down to double figures.
Markram flicked Josh Hazlewood for four to bring up his century off 159 deliveries in the 55th over shortly before close of play.
A total of 14 wickets had fallen on each of the first two days, and earlier on the third day Australia extended their 218-run overnight lead to 281, thanks to Starc’s unbeaten 58.
Batting at number nine, Starc, who had been dropped on 14 by Marco Jansen on Thursday evening, helped lift Australia from 148-9 to 207 thanks to a crucial 59-run last-wicket partnership with Hazlewood (17).
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada finished with 4-59 and fellow pace bowler Lungi Ngidi 3-38, with the pair having ripped through Australia’s batting line-up on Thursday to get their side back into the contest.
To win, South Africa were required to equal England’s most successful ever run chase at Lord’s from 2004.
The only bigger run chase at the home of cricket was 344-1 in 1984 by the West Indies.
England vs India Test series☀️
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports
First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – HeadingleySecond Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – EdgbastonThird Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’sFourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Old TraffordFifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
England Men’s Test summer continues with a five-match Test series against India at home, starting on Friday June 20 at Headingley, live on Sky Sports.
