13 June,2025 10:55 PM IST | London | mid-day online correspondent
Aiden Markram (Pic: AFP)
South Africa's Aiden Markram produced a masterful century under pressure to put his team in the driver's seat in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at Lord's on Friday. In a display of composure, timing, and technical brilliance, Markram etched his name into the record books by becoming the first South African to register a hundred in a WTC Final.
Opening the innings in pursuit of a challenging 282-run target, Markram showcased remarkable poise against a formidable Australian bowling attack. On a pitch that had seen 28 wickets fall over the first two days, he held firm, weathered the early storm, and slowly gained ascendancy over the bowlers. His unbeaten 102 off 155 deliveries not only steadied South Africa's innings but also kept their title hopes very much alive.
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In achieving this milestone, Markram joined an elite group of batters to have scored centuries in WTC finals. His name now sits alongside Australia's Travis Head, who struck 163 off 174 balls in the 2023 final against India, and Steve Smith, who scored 121 off 268 in the same match. Markram's knock was the third century in WTC Final history, and arguably one of the most significant, given the high-stakes nature of the chase and the difficult batting conditions.
Captain Temba 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. 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.
To win, South Africa was 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.
