South Africa are on the verge of creating history after dominating Australia on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Chasing 282 to win, Aiden Markram remained unbeaten at 102 while Bavuma was at 65 as the Proteas reached 213/2 at stumps, needing 69 more runs to seal the deal and clinch the coveted title.
South Africa haven’t won a senior men’s ICC trophy since 1998. They have come tantalizingly close on numerous occasions, most recently in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India, but only to fall short.
No wonder, Suth African spinner Keshav Maharaj got teary-eyed after seeing his team on the brink of WTC glory on Saturday.
Maharaj said it would mean ‘everything’ to the players, their fans who have traveled to England and thousands more back home.
“It would mean everything," Maharaj told the ICC. “Not just us (the players) out there or the fans here, but to everyone back home. To see how long it’s taken for this country to hold some sort of ICC final trophy in their hands… I’m sorry, I’m getting a bit teary-eyed, but I think it would be a privilege to be a part of, because we faced a lot as our country. And to see it come—well not to get ahead, but to nearly get there—is a very special feeling. So special."
Maharaj also commended the duo of Markram and Bavuma, expressing how ‘amazing’ it was to see a different desire in the former’s eyes and the latter’s warrior spirit.
“Kudos to Aiden. I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden’s eyes today… He’s a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly. There’s no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord’s in a final, against probably a team that I don’t think they’ve ever lost a final,” Maharaj said.
“He (Bavuma) had a little bit of a niggle, but the warrior and fighter that he is was there with Aiden to support it. It was amazing to hear how they complemented each other when they came off at the tea break, just hearing about how they’re going to go about their business and understanding that obviously Temba can’t run at full tilt, but Aiden embraced that,” he further remarked.
