South Africa on the Brink of Historic WTC Triumph

 

Match Update

South Africa needs just 69 more runs with eight wickets in hand on Day Four—an incredible turnaround after Australia looked well placed to defend their title hindustantimes.com+15theguardian.com+15theguardian.com+15.

Key Batting Highlights

• Aiden Markram rose from a duck in the first innings to a gritty 102* in the second—his century ignited the chase cairnspost.com.au.

• Captain Temba Bavuma, despite hamstring issues, has been rock-solid on 65*, steering the innings alongside Markram hindustantimes.com+3theguardian.com+3cairnspost.com.au+3.

• Their dangerous 143‑run partnership has completely shifted momentum hindustantimes.com+15theguardian.com+15theguardian.com+15.

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🔥 Australia’s Fightback Hopes

• Australia’s early bowlers, including Mitchell Starc, applied pressure, but couldn’t break the partnership .

• The historic match saw Steve Smith suffer a finger fracture while fielding at slip — a badly timed injury for Australia theguardian.com+2theguardian.com+2thetimes.co.uk+2.

• Australia has staged comebacks before, but with South Africa so close, a miracle bowling performance is needed to save the day abc.net.au+3theguardian.com+3theguardian.com+3.

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🎯 Milestones & Records

• Markram's century makes him the fifth South African to score a hundred and take wickets in the same Test in England—a rare achievement theguardian.com+15hindustantimes.com+15timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15.

• Cummins reached 300 Test wickets, becoming a fast‑bowling captain since 1982 to claim a five‑for at Lord’s apnews.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.

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🌍 Why This Moment Matters

• If South Africa completes the chase, it’s their first ICC trophy in decades—ending long-standing heartbreak in ICC finals skysports.com+3apnews.com+3timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3.

• This match underscores cricket’s unpredictability: a seemingly done game can dramatically reverse in one session theguardian.com.

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📌 What’s Next?

• With an early breakthrough, Australia could spark panic; but South Africa look composed and ready.

• Fans everywhere are on edge—69 runs now separate them from an epic victory at Lord’s.

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✅ Final Thought

South Africa stand just 69 runs away from cricketing history. Will Bavuma and Markram finish the job? Or can Australia engineer another twistworthy comeback?

Follow Day Four live—this one could go down as a classic.