Aiden Markram’s century in the World Test Championship Final on Friday, June 13, at Lord’s has instantly become one of the most iconic moments in South African cricket history. Under immense pressure and on a pitch where 28 wickets had already fallen in two days, Markram stood tall, composed, and unshaken, crafting an exceptional innings of 100 off 155 balls—the first-ever WTC Final century by a South African.
Chasing 282 against Australia, a total only twice chased successfully at Lord’s in the venue’s 140-year Test history, South Africa needed something extraordinary. Markram delivered exactly that. Opening the innings, he absorbed the early pressure from Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, all of whom bowled with venom on a still-challenging surface.
What made Markram’s hundred special was its control and timing. He didn’t go after extravagant strokes; instead, he played risk-free, technically sound cricket, particularly strong on the cut shot and anything short or wide. Despite the match’s high stakes, he batted with a sense of calm rarely seen in such intense circumstances.
His century partnership with Temba Bavuma was the backbone of South Africa’s fourth-innings effort. Together, they tamed the Australians, running sharp singles, rotating strike, and pouncing on poor deliveries. Bavuma, who survived two chances—including a dropped catch at 2—was unbeaten on 62 when Markram reached his landmark. Their understanding and shot selection were near-flawless, showcasing a blend of patience, determination, and resilience.
Markram now joins Steve Smith and Travis Head as the only players to score hundreds in a WTC Final, but his feat carries a historic edge—it’s the first by a South African in the marquee clash and potentially a match-defining innings in what could become South Africa’s first-ever major ICC title in men’s cricket.
With Markram setting the tone and Bavuma showing grit, South Africa are now firmly in control of the chase. If they finish the job on Day 4, Markram’s century will be remembered as one of the greatest knocks in WTC Final history—a moment of redemption, belief, and a defining chapter in South Africa’s cricketing legacy.
