What happened on Day 3 of the SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final?
Aiden Markram (102*) struck a brilliant ton while skipper Temba Bavuma (65*) hit a defiant fifty as South Africa dominated Day 3 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on Friday, June 13. Set a challenging target of 282 at Lord's, the Proteas went to stumps at 213-2. They need a further 69 runs on Day 4 to win the WTC 2025 final and create history.
Set a challenging target, South Africa lost opener Ryan Rickelton for six as he nicked one off left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc. Markram and Wiaan Mulder, however, frustrated the Aussies, adding 61 for the second wicket. Mulder (27 off 50) batted with defiance until he was dismissed softly, spooning a catch to cover off Starc's bowling.
Australia would have viewed Mulder's wicket as an opening, but Markram and Bavuma put South Africa in firm control of the chase, adding an unbroken 143 runs for the third wicket. The latter was struggling with a hamstring injury, but continued batting gallantly to defy the high-quality Australian bowling attack.
There was a massive moment on Day 3 of the WTC 2025 final as Steve Smith dropped Bavuma at first slip when the South African captain had only made two. Smith was standing closer than usual with a helmet on, but the nick off Starc flew towards his chest. The Aussie fielder even hurt his finger and went off the field.
Markram and Bavuma batted with great precision, with the former bringing up his fifty in the 25th over with a single off Pat Cummins. Bavuma also went on to bring up a brave half-century by guiding Nathan Lyon wide of the slip for a single. Minutes before the close of play on Day 3, Markram reached his eighth Test hundred, flicking a fullish delivery from Josh Hazlewood for a boundary.
Mitchell Starc defies South African bowlers with resolute half-century on Day 3 of WTC final
Earlier, Australia resumed their second innings on Day 3 of the WTC 2025 final at 144-8. Lyon (2) perished early, trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada with one that nipped in. If the Proteas had hope of knocking over the Aussies early on Day 3, Starc (58*) and Hazlewood (17) defied them with a last-wicket stand of 59.
Starc struck five fours in his determined innings, while Hazlewood also chipped in with a couple of boundaries. The partnership was broken at the stroke of lunch as Hazlewood chipped one from Markram to cover. The Aussies were all out for 207 in 65 overs. Markram continued to be the main reason for Australia's agony for the rest of the day as well.