South Africa moved closer to winning their first World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s on Friday, reaching 213-2 in their second innings with Aiden Markram scoring an unbeaten century. The Proteas need just 69 more runs with eight wickets remaining to achieve what would be the second-highest successful run chase at Lord’s.Markram finished the day on 102 not out, partnering with captain Temba Bavuma who scored 65 despite battling a hamstring injury. The pair built an unbroken 143-run partnership as South Africa pursued victory. The highest successful chase at Lord’s remains 344, set by the West Indies in 1984. South Africa has not won an ICC title since the 1998 ICC Knockout.Australia’s Mitchell Starc made significant contributions earlier in the day, scoring an unbeaten 58 in Australia’s second innings total of 207. He then dismissed Ryan Rickelton for six and Wiaan Mulder for 27 as a fast bowler. Starc nearly claimed a third wicket when Bavuma edged the ball, but Smith dropped the catch at an advanced slip position and left the field with a finger injury.Batting conditions improved significantly at Lord’s under sunny skies, with early moisture dissipating from the surface.
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Markram displayed aggressive intent from the start, scoring boundaries off Australian captain Pat Cummins through punches and pulls. Bavuma, despite his injury, contributed with elegant shots including a drive down the ground off Cummins.Australian spinner Nathan Lyon challenged both batsmen. Markram survived a close call when he missed a sharply turning off-break that also eluded wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Bavuma reached his fifty off 83 balls, despite being hampered by a hamstring injury. He had a lucky escape on 43 when his slog-sweep off Lyon fell just short of substitute fielder Sam Konstas at deep midwicket.Markram achieved his eighth Test century in 84 innings, reaching the milestone with his 11th boundary through midwicket off Josh Hazlewood. He had earlier moved to 97 with a straight drive off the same bowler.
The day began with South Africa making early progress when Kagiso Rabada dismissed Nathan Lyon lbw, leaving Australia at 148-9. However, Starc, who had been dropped on 14 by Marco Jansen the previous day, formed a crucial 59-run last-wicket partnership with Hazlewood. Part-time spinner Markram eventually ended the Australian innings by dismissing Hazlewood. Rabada finished with impressive match figures of 9 wickets, including 4-59 in the second innings.The match situation leaves South Africa well-positioned to secure a historic victory, though they face the challenge of overcoming their history of struggling in major tournament finals against the defending World Test Championship holders Australia.
