Aiden Markram made a brilliant unbeaten century to put South Africa within tantalising distance of a historic victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final.
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had shared a stand of 59 for Australia’s last wicket in the morning session of day three which appeared to give them the upper hand.
Starc top-scored for Australia with a gritty unbeaten half-century as they were eventually dismissed for 207 on the stroke of lunch.
However, any frustration South Africa may have felt gave way to a sense of what might be possible in more appreciable conditions for batting after the they were set a target of 282 for victory.
A Lord’s pitch which had seen 28 wickets fall during two days of cricket chaos suddenly looked a wildly different beast on a sun-kissed afternoon in St John’s Wood with Markram playing a stellar hand.
The 30-year-old has not played a competitive game of red-ball cricket since January, but he batted with finesse during a classical Test-match innings which now looks set to define this seesaw match.
Markram shared an unbroken 143-run partnership with South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, who was hampered by a hamstring injury, but tenaciously stayed at the crease to play his part with an unbeaten 65.
The pair will resume on day four with 69 runs required to wrap up the win.
A win which would more pertinently ensure South Africa end their long wait for a victory in a major men’s final, putting an end to their tag as international cricket’s chokers.
That is unless Australia’s bowlers can summon something quite remarkable with the ball on Saturday and provide an unexpected twist. (BBC)
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