Aiden Markram praised captain Temba Bavuma for his impressive 66 runs despite battling a hamstring strain.
Aiden Markram’s Heroic Century Seals South Africa’s World Test Championship Triumph
Aiden Markram cemented his status as a South African hero with a brilliant 136-run innings at Lord’s, steering his team to a thrilling 5-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final. His stellar performance earned him the well-deserved man-of-the-match award as he played a crucial role in chasing down 282—the second-highest successful target ever at this iconic venue.
Central to South Africa’s win was Markram’s gritty 147-run partnership with captain Temba Bavuma, who contributed a resilient 66 despite battling a strained hamstring. Bavuma’s determination to stay on the field, hobbling for singles and pushing through physical pain, inspired the team.
Speaking after the match, Markram praised Bavuma’s leadership and fighting spirit. “A lot of it came from him. He’s always led from the front for us, been incredible,” Markram said. “Even though he was hurting, he never considered walking off. He found a way to score really important runs and build a partnership that got us close. Those kinds of innings are what people remember.”
‘You only have an x amount of balls…’
Reflecting on his composed 207-ball innings with an impressive strike rate, Aiden Markram shared insights into his approach: “We came into the second innings with quite a few concerns. We needed a little bit of luck here and there, to spend some time in the middle and find some runs. Lord’s is the place every Test cricketer wants to play, and to play in a final here is incredibly special. One of the most special days.”
With this long-awaited title secured—their first in over 25 years—South Africa now look ahead to defending their World Test Championship crown in Pakistan later this year.