"Sir Bavuma and Proteas KL Rahul are on a mission"- Top 10 funny memes as South Africa inch closer to a historic win in 2025 WTC final vs Australia
South Africa dominated the proceedings on the third day of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's in London. They put themselves in a commanding position at Stumps, needing 69 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Australia began day three with an overnight score of 144/8 and a lead of 218 with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon at the crease. Kagiso Rabada gave the Proteas an early breakthrough by dismissing Lyon after the opposition added only four more runs to their tally. Mitchell Starc (58*) and Josh Hazlewood (17) then frustrated the South Africans with a patient 59-run partnership after playing for more than 22 overs.
Part-time off-spinner Aiden Markram eventually dismissed Hazlewood just before the lunch break to bundle out Australia for 207 in their second innings. Chasing 282 for the championship, South Africa got off to a poor start as opener Ryan Rickelton perished in the third over, trying to play an aggressive stroke.
Wiaan Mulder (27) and Aiden Markram stabilized the innings with a 61-run partnership for the second wicket. Mitchell Starc separated the duo in the 18th over by sending Mulder back to the pavilion.
Captain Temba Bavuma (65*) and Aiden Markram then put South Africa in the driver's seat with a sensational unbeaten 143-run stand for the third wicket. Markram played one of his best international knocks and completed his century during the final stages of the day. Bavuma battled through a hamstring issue and supported him well with a half-century as they took South Africa to 213/2 at Stumps on day three. They need 69 runs to win the game with two days left in the contest.
Fans enjoyed the engaging battle between bat and ball during the third day of the 2025 WTC final on Friday. They expressed their reactions to the action that unfolded by sharing memes on social media platforms. Here are some of the best memes:
"There was a lot more intent to score off every ball today"- SA all-rounder Wiaan Mulder after day 3 of 2025 WTC final vs Australia
Speaking after stumps on day three, South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder reflected on the day's play, saying:
"Unlike the first innings there was a lot more intent to score off every ball today. Shuks had a chat with me again and said that we have to put away the bad balls. Batting at number 3 is new for me. Hopefully I can get a lot more runs. (On the Bavuma-Markram partnership) Super special - both those guys have been through a lot of adversity in the last couple of years."
"You could see when they were walking off they were drained. They were pushing each other. Two guys who put South African cricket first. (Did the pitch change?) I think it did - it was quite slow today. The movement was slow and there wasn't as much as they wanted. There wasn't much nip either," Mulder added.
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