New Delhi: Aiden Markram delivered one of the finest innings in South Africa’s cricket history on Friday, etching his name alongside legends like Don Bradman and Michael Clarke with a match-defining century in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord’s. Markram’s unbeaten 102* off 159 deliveries, studded with 11 elegant boundaries, came under immense pressure in the fourth innings of a gripping Test match against Australia, as South Africa chased a daunting target of 282.
Markram not only became the first South African cricketer to score a century in an ICC tournament final, but also joined an exclusive list of visiting batters to have scored a fourth-innings century at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. That list includes Gordon Greenidge (1984), Roy Fredericks (1976), Michael Clarke (2009), Ajit Agarkar (2002), and the legendary Don Bradman (1938). His composure under pressure, especially on a surface that had tormented batters throughout the match, drew admiration from all corners of the cricketing world.
What makes Markram’s feat even more special is that it came during a high-stakes run chase in a Test final, with South Africa still chasing their elusive maiden ICC world title. He formed a crucial unbeaten century stand with captain Temba Bavuma, who himself battled through a hamstring injury to contribute a gritty 65* by stumps. Their 119-run partnership ensured that South Africa ended Day 3 on 213/2, needing just 69 more runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Earlier in the day, Markram had already shown intent during a vital 50-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder, steadying the Proteas after they lost two early wickets. South Africa had been 94/2 at tea, but it was the post-tea resilience that turned the tide in their favour.
This knock was Markram’s eighth Test century and his third in the fourth innings of a Test match — a rare feat that now places him alongside Geoff Boycott, Gordon Greenidge, and Graham Gooch. Only India’s Sunil Gavaskar and South Africa’s Graeme Smith, with four fourth-innings tons each, are ahead of him.
The 30-year-old also joined the elite club of South Africans who have scored a century and taken a wicket in the same Test on English soil. That list includes Bruce Mitchell (1935), Graeme Pollock (1965), and Jacques Kallis (1998, 2012). Markram contributed with the ball as well, taking two important wickets during Australia’s second innings.
Australia, having begun the day with a lead of 281, were buoyed by an incredible tail-end effort from Mitchell Starc. Coming in at a precarious 152/9, Starc struck a defiant unbeaten 58, taking Australia to a fighting total of 207. His effort set South Africa a tricky 282-run target — a total that initially looked formidable on a worn-out surface.
However, with the experienced Kagiso Rabada leading the bowling attack earlier — taking 4/59 in Australia’s second innings — and Markram’s heroics with the bat, South Africa now finds itself on the brink of ending its long-standing ICC title drought.
As the WTC Final heads into what promises to be a thrilling fourth day, all eyes are on Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma. With just 69 runs standing between them and history, South Africa is within striking distance of their first-ever ICC world title. If successful, this match will go down as one of the greatest in their cricketing annals — and Markram’s century will be remembered as one of the defining knocks in Test cricket history.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 212 & 207 (Mitchell Starc 58*, Alex Carey 43; Kagiso Rabada 4/59)
South Africa: 138 & 213/2 (Aiden Markram 102*, Temba Bavuma 65*, Mitchell Starc 2/37)
South Africa need 69 more runs to win with 8 wickets in hand.
