Markram and Bavuma steady innings as South Africa’s dogged chase progresses

London: Opener Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma fought hard to avoid a middle-order collapse and steadied the innings with gutsy, spirited batsmanship marked by circumspection and determination. South Africa are chasing a fourth-innings target of 282 against Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s.

As the third day nears end, the duo have already taken the team to a comfortable position. South Africa were 173 for two, looking comfortable considering the way the two batters were carrying on. Markram was batting on 81, while Bavuma remained unbeaten on 48.

Now, it seems the ghosts of the pitch have disappeared, as the well-set South African batters are confidently handling Australia’s pace attack of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood. The surface, which had seemed haunted with unpredictable bounce and seam movement over the first two days—when 28 wickets tumbled in conditions tailor-made for fast bowlers—has now settled, offering the batters a renewed sense of command.

Until the tea break on Friday, Australia held the upper hand. Mitchell Starc had starred with both bat and ball, helping Australia to a strong position. The tailender struck an unbeaten 58 in Australia’s second-innings total of 207, setting South Africa a target of 282 in the London sunshine.

Starc then made an early impact with the ball, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 9 with a wide yorker edged behind. He also removed Wiaan Mulder for 27 after a checked drive was caught low at cover by Marnus Labuschagne, ending a 61-run stand for the second wicket.

Starc nearly claimed a third when Bavuma, on two, edged a delivery thickly—but Steve Smith, stationed close in with a helmet, failed to hold a fast-traveling catch and later left the field with a finger injury. At that point, South Africa were 76 for two. They reached 94 for two at tea, still needing 188 runs for victory. Markram was on 49 and Bavuma, hobbling due to a recurring hamstring issue, was on 11.

After the interval, both batters showed renewed resolve, mixing defence with well-timed aggression to frustrate the Australians.

Earlier in the day, Australia had resumed their second innings on 144 for eight, already 218 ahead. South Africa struck quickly, with Kagiso Rabada trapping Nathan Lyon lbw to make it 148 for nine.

However, Starc—dropped in the gully by Marco Jansen on 14 late on the second day—rallied alongside Hazlewood on an increasingly flat surface. With the early moisture gone, batting conditions were the best they had been in the match. Starc completed the 11th fifty of his 97-Test career by upper-cutting Jansen over the cordon for his fourth four, having faced 131 balls.

It was part-time spinner Markram who eventually ended the resistance, when Hazlewood’s attempt to loft a dragged-down delivery over cover resulted in a mistimed shot caught in the deep. Their last-wicket stand added a valuable 59 runs.

Rabada finished with 4 for 59, giving him nine wickets in the match.

South Africa face a stiff challenge. If they succeed, it will be the second-highest successful run chase in a Test at Lord’s—surpassing England’s 281 against New Zealand in 2004.

While Australia are seasoned winners of major ICC tournaments, South Africa’s only international silverware remains the 1998 ICC Knockout, the precursor to the Champions Trophy. | AFP