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.
Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century puts the Proteas on the verge of a landmark victory over Australia
Australia face a near-impossible challenge after South Africa take control of the WTC final at Lord’s
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.
Steve Smith’s dropped catch and finger injury may become defining moments of the WTC final
With Smith sidelined, Australia’s fielding unit faces added pressure heading into the final day
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.
Lord’s sunshine gives batters the upper hand after bowlers dominated the opening two days of play
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.
