Aiden Markram scored a magnificent century in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia. Chasing a target of 282, Markram took the attack to the defending champions and reached the landmark in 156 deliveries to put South Africa on top. The Proteas did not get off to a great start as Ryan Rickelton was out for six. Wiaan Mulder also departed for 28 to put South Africa on the back foot. However, Markram, along with Temba Bavuma, put South Africa in a great position with a century stand. South Africa ended the day at 213-2.

Aiden Markram Achieves Historic Feat

Meanwhile, Markram created history after scoring a brilliant hundred. He became the first player in the world to score a century in the fourth innings of a World Test Championship final. So far, only Travis Head and Steve Smith have scored a hundred in the WTC finals. The Aussie pair tormented India during the WTC 2023 final, scoring 163 and 121 respectively; however, both hundreds came in the first innings.

Markram also became the ninth batter to register a duck and a hundred in the same Test at Lord’s, third since 1980 after Michael Vaughan against India in 2002 and Misbah-ul-Haq against England in 2016. He also became the fourth batter to score a hundred and take wickets in a Test for South Africa after Bruce Mitchell, Graeme Pollock and Jacques Kallis.

South Africa Nears Maiden WTC Title

Bavuma (65*) and Markram (102*) added 143 runs for the third wicket to take South Africa to 213-2 at stumps on Day 3. South Africa have suffered numerous heartbreaks in ICC events, but the two players have got them very close to the WTC title. However, the match is not done yet, and South Africa are still 69 runs away from a historic win.

Australia started the game as favourites, but were rattled by a brilliant Kagiso Rabada. He picked five wickets in the first innings to bowl out Australia for 212. Australia roared back into the contest after knocking over South Africa for 138, courtesy of a six-wicket haul by Pat Cummins. Rabada was on fire in the second innings as well and picked four wickets to help South Africa restrict Australia to 207-10.

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