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- AUS vs SA Live Score, WTC Final 2025: South Africa near historic WTC win at iconic Lord’s vs Australia
AUS vs SA Live Score, WTC Final 2025: South Africa near historic WTC win at iconic Lord’s vs Australia
Bavuma, who has become the face of this fearless unit, summed it up perfectly: “The sun is on us.” After years of being branded as ‘chokers’, this generation has proved that South African cricket can thrive under pressure and deliver when it matters the most.
Their journey to this crown was nothing short of dominant — eight consecutive Test wins, including conquering the mighty Australians at the spiritual home of cricket. When the stakes were highest, senior pros like Aiden Markram rose to the occasion with a sublime century under immense pressure, while Bavuma himself led from the front with calm authority and crucial runs that kept Australia at bay.
This triumph means so much more than just a trophy. It’s a healing balm for a cricketing nation that has suffered near misses and gut-wrenching exits on the grandest stages. It’s a celebration for legends like Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers and Shaun Pollock, who witnessed it live at Lord’s and felt the weight of those barren years lift.
As the winning runs were struck, the scenes were heartwarming. Verreynne and Rickelton embraced each other with unbridled joy, the dressing room balcony erupted in high-fives and tears, and Bavuma — calm and stoic — took it all in before being enveloped in a hug.
For many, this is not just a win. It is vindication. Marco Jansen spoke for the squad when he said: “That’s what dreams are made of. Dreams are meant to be achieved and we’re going to celebrate.” Rabada silenced doubters about their road to the final, calling out critics who questioned their opposition.
From every corner of South Africa, the message is clear — this team has ended the wait. Under clear London skies, they turned a page in history and gave their country a moment it will cherish for generations.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, A short ball, around off, punched towards mid on.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Too straight, clipped through mid-wicket for a couple. Markram moves to 31 (40).
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, That stayed low! On a length, outside off, Markram looks to play that from the back foot but the ball shoots low and lands nearly a foot in front of the keeper. Did not miss the off stump by much.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Nearly a soft dismissal! On a length, on the middle stump line, Aiden Markram flicks it uppishly and it nearly carries to the fielder at short mid-wicket! The slip cordon has less density now with just two men manning that area.
- Wiaan Mulder 27 (45)
- Aiden Markram 29 (37)
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Bowled from a wider angle from around the stumps. Landed on a length, outside off, this is steered off the back foot to square leg.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Around the stumps now. Slides the ball across the batter, on a length. Wiaan Mulder rocks back and knocks it onto the surface.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Slows it up through the air, on middle. Mulder defends this full ball.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! Right out of the coach's manual! Too full and outside off, Wiaan Mulder leans on it and creams the cover drive for a boundary.
Nathan Lyon to Aiden Markram, A bit too full, floated on middle, Aiden Markram pushes this down to long on for a single. This brings the 50-run stand between Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder.
Nathan Lyon to Aiden Markram, Length, on off, punched off the back foot to short cover by Aiden.
Tough situations call for a shift in mindset. Usman Khawaja is standing nearly 2 yards AHEAD of the keeper, Alex Carey, at first slip. Now, usually in cricket, the first slip stands behind the keeper and the second slip stands ahead of that first slip. So it will be a bit unusual for Carey to have someone in front of his peripheral vision. The problem for Australia is, plenty of edges have landed short of the slip cordon in the past 2 days and as far as this innings is concerned, an edge itself is a rarity.
- Wiaan Mulder 23 (41)
- Aiden Markram 28 (35)
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Skids through the deck, on a length, at off. Wiaan Mulder blocks it solidly off the front foot.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller and on the stumps, Wiaan Mulder flicks this towards Sam Konstas at mid-wicket.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Good length, at the stumps, Aiden Markram knocks this wide of mid on for a single.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Nagging length, outside off, punched to the off side.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, EDGED AND FOUR! Just past the first slip and the keeper. That area has been really annoying for both sides in this Test as on so many occasions, the ball has just not carried all the way through. Just around off, nibbling away from the batter on a length. Aiden Markram tries to punch this to the off side, but gets a thick healthy outside edge. However, luckily for him, the ball does not carry to the keeper, Alex Carey, and dips low between the first slip where Usman Khawaja is stationed, and the keeper. Carey dives to his right but does not lay any hand on it and the ball trickles behind to the boundary.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Hard length, outside off, jagging back in. Aiden Markram firmly punches this off the back foot. Hares back for the second as the ball trickles towards deep backward point.
DRINKS BREAK. Excellent hour for South Africa. With the conditions firmly in their favour, they have nearly made full use of the same. Their only complaint would be the gift offered by Ryan Rickelton, who threw his wicket away. The ball has barely swung and the fact that it took 11 overs for the experienced 4-man legendary attack to string a maiden shows the positivity from the batters. It is damage control for Cummins now, as he has kept an in-out field. After leaking 39 in the first 7 overs, the Aussies have managed to peg back the scoring a bit, conceding only 12 in the last 6. We have seen an instance or two of the ball staying low, but apart from that, these are perfect batting conditions and Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder are laying down a wonderful platform for a famous win. It will be interesting to see the body language of the Aussies if they continue to struggle for wickets. Meanwhile, Sam Konstas is on the park at the moment, for Josh Hazlewood.
- Wiaan Mulder 23 (39)
- Aiden Markram 21 (31)
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, On the stumps, full and flat, 92 kph, Wiaan Mulder gets right behind the line to defend it out.
Nathan Lyon to Aiden Markram, Gives some revolutions to the ball now, does Lyon, full and outside off. Aiden Markram works this gently past mid on for a single.
Nathan Lyon to Aiden Markram, Flat and quick, on a length, spinning into the batter. Punched by Markram back to the bowler.
Nathan Lyon to Aiden Markram, Pulls the length back, drifting onto the pads, Aiden Markram hangs back and tucks it to backward square leg.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, FIFTY UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA! In just 12.2 overs! Slower through the air, full and on off, Wiaan Mulder leans on it and eases it out to the cover region for a quick single.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Nice and full. tossed up around off, Wiaan Mulder defends it on the front foot.
True to its nature, Day 3 has turned out to be a brilliant day for batting at Lord's. As per the on-air broadcasters, the false shot percentage today has been recorded as 13 percent so far, as compared to 25 on Day 1 and 23 on Day 2. We have to remember that for a majority part of the day today, the Aussie tail has batted and still the False Shot percentage is low. It's a sign that conditions have eased out significantly. The South African batters have indeed spotted it and accordingly taken advantage of the conditions, having scored runs at over 4.
- Aiden Markram 20 (28)
- Wiaan Mulder 22 (36)
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Length, outside off, dabbed late by Markram to the gully region.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, on the pads. Wiaan Mulder misses to tuck it across and the ball rolls off the thigh pad to the square leg region. They get a leg bye.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Whoa, had to really hurry there! Full from Cummins, around off. Aiden Markram drives this wide of mid off and sets off for a single straightaway. A clean work there from Nathan Lyon as he swiftly moves to his left, picks the ball and releases it instantly at the bowling end. The skates are on for Markram as Lyon misses to score a direct hit. The batter drags the bat to get home.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Goes fuller, does Patrick, aiming the off peg. Aiden Markram presses forward and solidly defends it out.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Much closer to the stumps, nagging length. Aiden Markram responds again with that backfoot block.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, Back of a length, just around off. Aiden Markram gets on the back foot and punches this straight back to the bowler.
Cummins from this end now? Indeed. 2-0-11-0 so far for the skipper.
- Wiaan Mulder 22 (35)
- Aiden Markram 19 (23)
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Shortish on off, Wiaan Mulder eases it back to the bowler. And finally, Australia have their first maiden of the 4th innings, in the 11th over.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, around off, punched off the back foot to mid-wicket.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, BEAUTY! How, has that missed the off stump? Touch full and spins sharply back into the batter from around off. Wiaan Mulder gets forward to play a casual on drive, with the spin, but plays this over the wrong line. The ball goes close to the inside edge and passes scaringly past the off stump.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Drags the length back now, does Lyon, on middle. Wiaan Mulder steers this to the square leg region.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Tossed up, fuller and just around off. Wiaan Mulder leans on with a huge stride to block it.
Nathan Lyon to Wiaan Mulder, Starts off with a length ball, does 'Garry', on off, and staying a tad low. Wiaan Mulder rocks back and stabs it back to the bowler.
Nathan Lyon is warming up. Suspect he will come from Hazlewood's end, who has bowled 5 overs in this spell. In fact, he is on from this end. So Cummins might switch ends in the next over. Lyon bowled with figures of 8-3-12-0 in the first innings. Did not threaten the batters but did not bowl loose balls. Cummins will expect same type of control for now. If Australia need wickets, they first need to slow down the run rate.
- Aiden Markram 19 (23)
- Wiaan Mulder 22 (29)
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Full and just outside off, Aiden Markram exhibits a solid front foot defense.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, A bit too straight, Mulder works this through square leg for a single.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, outside off, Wiaan Mulder watches the ball closely and pushes it towards point.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Full on off, Wiaan Mulder defends it off the front foot to short cover.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball that seams in and stays a touch low, Wiaan Mulder does well to defend it.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Length ball on middle, Aiden Markram plays the flick along the ground to deep square leg for a single.
Worth giving Lyon the ball right now? Not yet. Lyon is someone who likes bounce. With the ball relatively new, he may not get turn, but can generate extra bounce to trouble the batters. For now, Hazlewood continues.
- Wiaan Mulder 21 (25)
- Aiden Markram 18 (21)
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length, outside off, Mulder lets it through.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, around off, pushed towards mid on.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! SMOKED! Terrific shot from Wiaan Mulder but not the best piece of fielding by Travis Head. A short ball, barely rises to chest height, Mulder picks the length in a trice and pulls it all along the ground through square leg. Head starts to run to his right but at the time of putting in a dive, does not put the dive and the ball meets the fence. 237 more needed.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Overpitched on off, Wiaan Mulder eases the drive to short cover.
Markram, who bagged a duck in the first innings, roared back with an unbeaten 102, while Bavuma, battling a hamstring strain, stood tall at 65 not out. The pair’s unbroken stand of 143 has put South Africa in control to pull off only the second-highest successful run chase at the iconic ground, after West Indies’ legendary chase in 1984.
For a team haunted by past heartbreaks and big-match slip-ups, this could be the defining moment. Australia’s Mitchell Starc had given the Aussies hope with runs and quick wickets, but the calmness of Markram and Bavuma has turned the tide.
If South Africa get over the line, it will break a 27-year drought for an ICC title, finally banishing the ‘chokers’ tag. But as fans know too well, nothing is done until it’s done — Lord’s is ready for a finish to remember.
Match Statistics
Venue
Lord's Cricket Ground, London
