WTC FINAL 2025: South Africa’s drought of ICC titles may come to an end after 27 years if they manage to score remaining 69 runs that is required to win the ICC WTC final 2025 against Australia on Saturday at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground. South Africa had last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998 after defeating West Indies.
In the high-stakes setting of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, South Africa’s stylish opener Aiden Markram crafted a crucial century on Day 3, steering his nation to the brink of a first-ever Test tournament crown. Markram became the first South African to hit a century in the final of an ICC event. This is also arguably his best test innings so far in his career.
Captain Bavuma and Markram have stitched together an unbeaten partnership of 143 runs in 232 balls till stumps of Day 3. South Africa are just 69 runs away from becoming only the third nation to win the ICC World Test Championship and if there doesn’t appear any ghost in the Lord’s pitch at Day 4, they are going to achieve it in most likelihood.
Ready to break a trophy drought at the #WTC25 Final 🏆
— ICC (@ICC) June 14, 2025
ICC Hall of Famer and former South African captain Graeme Smith hails a Proteas team set to rewrite history 🗣️https://t.co/OjfdHt93Tn
Starting at 144-8, Australia, on Day 3, lost their 9th wicket in Nathon Lyon who was adjudged LBW in the third over of the day off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada. But the last pair of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood glued to the wicket and stitched together very handy 59 runs frustrating South African bowlers and fielders for 23 overs.
Australia took the lead of 281 runs which, looking at the previous 3 innings, seemed to be a very challenging total. But the batting masterclass of captain Bavuma and Aiden Markram made it look very easy. Bavuma 65(121) and Markram 102(159) played patiently, took their time and slowly took the team closer to creating history.
Striking 11 boundaries against an attack featuring Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood, he showcased impeccable judgement. Through mid-wicket flicks or precise cuts, every stroke was measured. According to batting coach Ashwell Prince, a minor tweak—keeping his hands closer—made all the difference. The Bavuma–Markram duo exemplified synergy. Bavuma’s half-century, achieved on a hamstrung leg, complemented Markram’s elegance, crafting a partnership that neutralized Australia’s intent.
ICC WTC FINAL 2025: STATISTICS
Markram’s ton shattered multiple statistical ceilings:
- First South African to score a century in an ICC tournament final
- Became the third batter ever to reach triple figures in a WTC final, joining Steve Smith (121) and Travis Head (163) from the 2021–23 final
- Joined the elite club of visited cricketers with a fourth-innings century at Lord’s, including legends like Don Bradman and Michael Clarke
- His knock marked his eighth Test hundred and the third four‑innings ton of his career—tying with Boycott, Gooch, and Greenidge. Only Gavaskar and Graeme Smith have more in Tests
- Markram becomes the ninth batter to register a duck and a hundred in the same Test at Lord’s, third since 1980 after Michael Vaughan against India in 2002 and Misbah-ul-Haq against England in 2016.
Wian Mulder after the match said, “It took away the fear of failure going into this innings. We talked about getting whatever they get. There was a lot less fear of failure going into this innings. We had a chat about putting away the bad balls.”
“Batting at number three is a new thing for me, I haven’t done it in first-class cricket. Super session, both of them (Markram and Bavuma) have been through a lot, you can see they were drained, really nice to see two guys who’ve put in a lot for South African cricket do something special today. The surface was a bit slower today, there wasn’t as much nip and it’s got to do with wear and tear. Even when we were bowling, everything was happening really slowly, I’m glad we capitalised” he concluded.
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What started as a day of great frustration has ended as a day of great fulfillment for South Africa. 69 runs away, South Africa are on the cusp of a historic win here at Lord’s. 14 wickets fell on both days 1 and 2, just four wickets today on Day 3 – that’s testament to how much easier batting was today.
Australia batted the entirety of the first session much to South Africa’s agitation as their hopes of rolling Australia over cheaply didn’t come to fruition. That emotion, however, was quickly washed away by what transpired in the next two sessions as South Africa, in the best batting conditions seen in this Test so far, batted with confidence, authority and poise. Led by a fantastic century from Aiden Markram, they polished off 213 inside 56 overs. With 8 wickets still in hand, they head into Day 4 as uncontested favourites.
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