SA 213/2 in 56 Overs (Stumps) | South Africa vs Australia ICC WTC 2025 Final Day 3 Highlights: Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma Take Proteas Close to Historic Win

STUMPS on Day 3! What a day's play it has been and Aiden Markram along with Temba Bavuma have put the Proteas on the brink of a historic win! They need just 69 more runs to win the WTC 2025 final! Both the right-handers have played very well and their 143-run unbeaten stand has ensured that unless there's a miraculous turn of events, South Africa would win this match. It has been a performance of some note! Aiden Markram (102*) grabbed the spotlight with a scintillating century, playing some exquisite shots and also rotating the strike along with Temba Bavuma (65*), who, despite a hamstring injury, battled hard and put his side on top. Australia on the other hand, have had a poor day on the field. Apart from Mitchell Starc (2/53) there wasn't much to show as South Africa made the bowlers toil hard. A key feature of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma's unbeaten partnership is how easily they rotated the strike. South Africa are outright favourites to win this on Day 4 but Australia can induce some panic in the Proteas dressing room with some quick wickets. Thanks for joining us for the coverage of Day 3 of the SA vs AUS ICC WTC 2025 final! 

HUNDRED for Aiden Markram! What a knock it has been from the South African opener who has risen to the occasion in the ultimate Test! After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Aiden Markram has batted extremely well in his second outing and his knock has put South Africa on the brink of scripting history at Lord's. 

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma have taken South Africa close to what would be a historic win. Just 84 runs are needed now and Australia need a miracle from here on to bounce back in this contest. With eight wickets in hand and two set batters at the crease, it is South Africa's game to lose from here on. 

FIFTY for Temba Bavuma! This has been a knock of grit and determination from the South African captain. He has not been struggling with a hamstring injury but has continued to bat and has made a mark here. 

The partnership between Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma has crossed 100 runs and South Africa will start to believe that they are almost there. Australia on the other hand, continue their hunt for a wicket here. It is also the first century partnership of the SA vs AUS ICC WTC 2025 final.

South Africa continue to be in control at 164/2 in 40 overs and Australia are desperate for a wicket here. The partnership between Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma is 94 runs now and it will be interesting to see how the remainder of Day 3 plays out. 

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma are going great here and South Africa will be delighted with this partnership. Both right-handers have played some good shots in this partnership and rotated the strike as well. Australia on the other hand, are looking to get out of ideas at this stage. They desperately seek a moment of brilliance from somewhere. 

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma are leading the charge for South Africa here. Their partnership has looked good so far and although the South African captain is limping from his hamstring injury, these two have put the Proteas in a good position. Australia on the other hand, need a wicket here, ideally that of Aiden Markram. 

FIFTY for Aiden Markram! It has been a superb innings from the South African opener and now, he will look to make it big and take his team past the finish line. He has shown a good mix of caution and aggression and a lot would depend on how he plays from here on. 

Tea on Day 3! South Africa have scored 94/2 in this session and they would be backing themselves to have a good outing with the bat in the remainder of the day. Aiden Markram has batted superbly so far but South Africa will sweat on the fitness of captain Temba Bavuma who had received treatment on the field for his hamstring injury. Mitchell Starc, who starred with a gritty 58* earlier on, took both the wickets so far and he and other Australian bowlers would hope to make further in-roads. 

After Steve Smith, it is Temba Bavuma who has now sustained an injury it seems. The physios are on and the South African captain is being treated for what seemed like a hamstring injury while he was running a single. 

Steve Smith has left the field with a finger injury. He was standing ahead of the wicketkeeper in first slip and was caught by surprise with the ball coming at him quickly. He dropped the catch but was seen in incredible pain. The Australian medics arrived on the ground and he left the field along with them. He stood few metres ahead with the number of catches that have fallen short of the slips in this Test. Sam Konstas has come out to field as a substitute.

OUT! Mitchell Starc has struck once again and this time, he has dismissed Wiaan Mulder! The right-hander, who batted so well so far, hit the ball uppishly at cover with Mitchell Starc going round the wicket, where Marnus Labuschagne took a good catch. Australia would be very happy with this and Wiaan Mulder is absolutely gutted! Wiaan Mulder c Marnus Labuschagne b Mitchell Starc 27(50) 

The Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder partnership has turned out to be very good for South Africa here. Both the batters have respected the good deliveries and attacked the loose ones and Australia will slowly start to worry about this growing partnership, which is in excess of 50 runs already. 

Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder have looked strong for the Proteas so far, with South Africa scoring 47 runs so far in 10 overs. The Proteas would hope that this partnership continues, which will increase Australia's headache. Nathan Lyon is going to be key for Australia here.

Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder have looked strong for the Proteas so far, with South Africa scoring 47 runs so far in 10 overs. The Proteas would hope that this partnership continues, which will increase Australia's headache. Nathan Lyon is going to be key for Australia here.

Aiden Markram has played a couple of delightful shots and the right-hander is looking pretty good out there in the middle. South Africa would want him to stay as long as possible at the crease while Australia would be keen on seeing his back, preferably in this session. 

OUT! Mitchell Starc has provided Australia with an early wicket and it is Ryan Rickelton who has to depart! The left-hander got an outside edge to the fuller delivery and Alex Carey took a good catch. Australia will be pumped up with that wicket. Ryan Rickelton c Alex Carey b Mitchell Starc 6(8)

Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram have begun the run chase for South Africa and these two will look to form a solid partnership here. Mitchell Starc, on expected lines, bowled the first over of the innings and six runs were scored off it. 

LUNCH on Day 3! What a session it has been and it has been Australia with the upper hand. Mitchell Starc has been the standout performer for Australia with a half-century and his partnership with Josh Hazlewood has helped the defending champions set a daunting target for South Africa. Josh Hazlewood was dismissed by Aiden Markram and now, South Africa will look to make the most of the good batting conditions on Day 3 at the Lord's Cricket Ground. We will be back with the run chase in the second session!