As the shadows of Day 4 drew longer at Lord’s, a cricket nation dared to dream. Defined as underachievers in ICC tournaments for far too long, South Africa’s historic World Test Championship (WTC) title could finally be theirs, with a decisive innings from Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma bringing them just 69 runs from possible glory. Cricket is a sport where mental fortitude often separates a champion from a pretender, and the Proteas had the poise and discipline – more importantly, the will – to change history.
Chasing 282 runs to win from Australia, South Africa’s chase had the makings of the drama often seen in a fourth-innings: wickets lost, chances missed, injuries sustained, and brilliance on display. However it was the partnership between Markram and Bavuma, a union forged in courage and doggedness that ultimately brought South Africa within a whisker of a famous win over time in this match.
Markram’s Masterclass: The Calm in the Storm
Aiden Markram had played outstanding innings throughout his career, but none will have more significance than Day 4’s innings at Lord’s. With the gross pressure of a final and the weight of a nation on him, Markram played with calmness and fluidity. Markram’s innings demonstrate tactical awareness and classical shots, bringing up his eighth Test century with a stylish leg-side flick into the stands in the dying moments of the innings.
Markram was nearly flawless in his shot position. He was under the cosh against extremely well-paced bowling and sharp speed from Australia’s quicks, and was calm and determined never to allow the bowlers to settle for a rhythm. His cover drives against Starc; the late-cut drive against the spinners demonstrated his complete domination over this innings. The back-cut that bisected deep third and point felt unplayable, and could well have been the shot of the day – delicate, yet utterly devastating.
Another significant aspect to his innings was the calmness and composure he brought to the crease. In a final, where nerves and aggression from bowlers is at their height, Markram batted with apparent disregard of the moment perhaps forgetting there was a Finals – perhaps that is how you bat in these moments.
Bavuma’s Courage: Captain Courageous
If Markram’s innings contained elements of situational shock, Bavuma’s innings was astonishingly courageous. With a hamstring injury, Bavuma pounded his way between singles, battled through pain, and faced one of the most potent bowling attacks in a Test match anywhere in the world. In his first over, when just on 2, he offered Steven Smith a sharp chance at slip. The catch went through his gloves and delivered a world of pain to Smith’s newly dislocated finger, an ultimately cruel mischance that cost the team dearly.
When Bavuma probably should’ve been finished, not only was he still upright, he was flowing and finding gaps with great composure and intelligence. To apply pressure on the bowlers while barely being able to run at times showed an extraordinary amount of fight and he and Markram ticked off a brilliant 143-run partnership in 38 overs – the stand that would change the game.
In so many ways, Bavuma has become the quintessential South African cricketer: tough, fiery, and determined.
Australia’s Missed Opportunities
While the result was a challenging one for Australia, they established themselves out of rhythm on a day which they needed to take control of the match. Mitchell Starc opened Australia’s hopes by claiming two early wickets in Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder but, after that, it was a frustrating day with the missed catch by Smith a key moment in not only the drop but the injury blow to one of their best players.
Nathan Lyon caused a few problems out of the rough and Travis Head even found some considerable spin with his part-time spin, but it seemed none of the six Australian bowlers could find a way to break through at the time it was needed. Pat Cummins diligently rotated his bowlers, but it appeared that the pitch had lost its bite as the sun softened it.
Graft Over Glory: South Africa’s Turning Point
South Africa’s performance on Day 4 is understood to have been made in the fire of the past. From World Cup misses to semi-final misses, the Proteas have often been within arm’s reach of ICC glory only to stumble short of the line. It appears that this time, they have the belief and balance to do it.
Their batting on Day 4 was a contrast to their innings of their first innings, when they appeared to have no fluency.The difference was obvious from the outset—after an early loss of Rickelton, they reached 47/1 in 10 overs compared with 30/3 at this stage in the first innings. The immediacy and clarity in approach was obvious and signaled their intention: they were there to win.
Starc and Hazlewood: Lower-Order Battling
Earlier in the day, Australia’s last wicket pairing of Starc and Hazlewood batted for 59 valuable runs frustrating South Africa and moving the lead to over 280. Starc, demonstrating his under-appreciated batting ability, made his first half century since 2019 off 131 balls with significant grit.
Hazlewood’s ability to withstand the batting alongside him was not new—he has been involved in similar rescue situations previously—and on one occasion he even ramped Jansen over the slips in a moment of cavalier stroke-play. It was Aiden Markram, having bowled earlier in the day, who eventually dismissed Hazlewood and brought the fruitful partnership to an end.
This partnership had given Australia a fighting chance. But as the play progressed, it became clear that it was probably only delaying the inevitable.
What Happens Next?
South Africa, needing just 69 with 8 wickets left at the end of Day 4, enters Day 5 as firm favorites. The pitch has flattened, the Australian bowlers have tired, and the two set batters have already been through the hard work.
But this is Test cricket—and finals have a way of surprising us. Australia, if they get an early wicket, can open the door if they have the strength and discipline. However, if South Africa can be patient and resolute, a new historical chapter of cricket will be written at Lord’s.
Conclusion
Whatever happens on Day 5, South Africa’s Day 4 effort should be recorded in the annals of Test cricket history. Markram’s class and Bavuma’s courage has created a chapter of redemption and resilience.
As they attempt to lift their first-ever ICC trophy in 27 years, they have shown the world what Test cricket is about—endurance, character, and moments that will never be forgotten. Kheloexch users following the series have witnessed history in real time, and the excitement continues to build.
Will they nail the job and rid decades of near-misses? All eyes now turn to Lord’s for what could be a crowning moment in South African cricket. Kheloexch Register today and be part of the unforgettable finale.
