Aiden Markram is batting what may be the most defining innings of his career. In the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, South Africa finished Day 3 strongly on 213 for 2 in pursuit of 282 to win against Australia. Markram walked tall with a perfect unbeaten century, as captain Temba Bavuma remained undefeated on 65, taking the Proteas to within touching distance of their first ICC title in 27 years.
Markram’s eighth Test hundred was in understated style, with 11 boundaries and finished off by a stylish pull through mid-wicket in the penultimate over of the day.
Ultimate knock in the Ultimate Test 💯
— ICC (@ICC) June 13, 2025
Aiden Markram brings in all his class and experience on the biggest stage 🫡
Follow the #WTC25 Final action LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/pQ7yVBzaQL pic.twitter.com/QLh0D2md33
As the Proteas move closer to glory, a 2018 Twitter post by Indian superstar Virat Kohli extolling Markram has come back and gone viral. “Aiden Markram is a joy to watch!” Kohli had tweeted during one of Markram’s previous knocks, an 84-run innings against Australia in Cape Town.
Virat Kohli was so right about Aiden Markram 👌 pic.twitter.com/r1sM8Si7KO
— Nidhi Shree (@NidhiShreeJha) June 13, 2025
Addressing the ICC, South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince described Markram as the “man for the big occasion.” Choked back tears, Prince explained that a fine-tuning technical tweak had been instrumental in Markram’s controlled innings.
“He’s always the one who comes through when it really counts,” Prince said. “Technically speaking, it was a little tweak – he was pushing his hands away from his body and slicing across the ball. But after seeing some videos, it just clicked.”
Prince also attributed head coach Shukri Conrad for keeping calm under duress. “When Aiden and Temba returned into the dressing room, Shukri told them, ‘we do everything the same warm-up, same mindset.’ It’s about staying calm and focused.”
South Africa’s bowlers were chasing two early wickets during the morning to make Australia’s lead tolerable. Kagiso Rabada did get Nathan Lyon out early, but tailenders Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood managed to infuriate the Proteas with their dogged 59-run 10th-wicket stand. Hazlewood was finally dismissed on the last delivery before lunch, leaving South Africa with a target of 282.
After lunch, Australia briefly struck back when Starc dismissed Ryan Rickelton for six. But a steady 63-run stand between Markram and Wiaan Mulder calmed nerves. Mulder was eventually caught brilliantly by Marnus Labuschagne for 27, but South Africa remained in control.
Australia’s fielding problems persisted when Steve Smith dropped Bavuma on two and dislocated a finger while doing so, and was ruled out for the remainder of the day and taken to hospital.
Even after succumbing to a hamstring strain in the afternoon, Bavuma displayed tremendous grit. Prince confirmed there were consultations during tea time about retiring the captain injured but Bavuma was adamant on going on. He went ahead to deliver a gritty 121-ball innings with five fours.
This is a defining moment in his career,” commented Prince. “He’s battled for everything he’s got, and he’s never given up. Aiden has immense respect for Temba, and this sense of togetherness within the team is its greatest strength.
You can see how much they care the way they hooray every wicket, the way they support one another. South Africa may have had more individually gifted sides in the past, but this team has something special.
With only 69 runs required to be world champions, the Proteas are in the box seat. But with their chequered past at ICC tournaments, the real test now is to stay calm and seal the deal.
The only big ICC title South Africa has ever won is the 1998 Champions Trophy. They’ve been agonizingly close a few times since but this, certainly, is their best chance at redemption.
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