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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 Wiaan Mulder, Full on middle, Wiaan Mulder now defends it off the front foot to mid on.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Back of a length, on middle, Wiaan Mulder blocks it off the back foot to mid on.
- Aiden Markram 18 (21)
- Wiaan Mulder 17 (19)
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Full and straight, 135 kph, Aiden defends. Believe it or not, this is the most frugal over of the run chase.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, On a length, outside off, Markram opens the face of his bat and guides it behind point. Nathan Lyon jogs across to his left at the sweeper cover boundary to keep the batters to a couple.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Full, outside off, Aiden Markram gets a long way forward to defend the ball towards cover.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Length ball swinging in a touch, on middle and off, Aiden Markram is almost undone by the movement as he somehow gets an inside edge on it, and the ball crashes into his pads before going into the ground.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Length ball on off, Aiden Markram blocks it off the front foot, to the left of short cover.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, A touch fuller, Aiden Markram didn't expect it to be that full and hence he didn't commit on the front foot and ends up defending it off the crease.
Interesting. Steve Smith has got the helmet on at second slip. But for that, the ball has to take the outside edge first.
- Wiaan Mulder 17 (19)
- Aiden Markram 16 (15)
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! Another fine stroke! On a length, outside off, Wiaan Mulder stands tall and upright and punches this past a diving point, to his right, for his third boundary! This stand is racing along at 30 (29)!
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller, outside off, Mulder comes forward to defend but the ball pitches and then moves away off the seam, to beat the outside edge.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, A bit too straight, Wiaan Mulder leans and clips it through square leg. The immediate call is for two and the batters run extremely well to make it. This has been a fabulous start by South Africa on all accounts. Not only have they lost just the solitary wicket, they are going at 5 an over. Not even a single maiden!
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Good length again, on off, Wiaan Mulder uncomfortably defends it off the crease. That ball straightened a bit after pitching, and hence Wiaan Mulder was uncomfortable defending it.
Pat Cummins to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, seaming into the right hander, on middle and off, Wiaan Mulder defends it into the leg side.
Bowling change. With the ball not swinging and Starc leaking runs, Pat Cummins brings himself on to exert some control.
Pat Cummins to Aiden Markram, On a length, on off, Aiden Markram defends it off the crease into the off side and calls for one straightaway. The gully fielder came running at the ball, but in the end the batters comfortably complete the single.
- Wiaan Mulder 11 (14)
- Aiden Markram 15 (14)
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Full and around off, Wiaan is solid in defense.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! SMASH! A rare bad ball from Josh Hazlewood, short and wide outside off, too good an opportunity to miss against the new ball. Mulder stands tall and crashes it to the left of point for his second boundary.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, just outside off, Wiaan Mulder defends it towards cover.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, angling into the right hander, on middle, Wiaan Mulder looks to flick it and misses, as the ball hits him near the stomach area. That would have hurt.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Length ball, that shapes away slightly, well outside off, Wiaan Mulder leaves it alone.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, On a length, swinging into the right hander on off, Wiaan Mulder blocks it off the front foot.
- Aiden Markram 15 (14)
- Wiaan Mulder 7 (8)
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Angling across off on a good length. Aiden Markram decides to shoulder arms. Two boundaries from this over, 9 overall coming off it.
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Placed perfectly into the gap! Hits the deck hard, does Starc, with a slight inward curve onto the pads. Aiden Markram hops on the back foot and clips this past square leg for a boundary. A lovely display of wristwork there.
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Going across off on a length, Aiden Markram plays it late and dabs the ball to the gully fielder.
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Shapes into the batter from middle, on a length. Aiden Markram gets right behind it and keeps it out to short cover.
Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Markram is on the charge! A bit too full from Starc, across off, angling away. Aiden Markram pounces on the length and width offered, leans on the ball and cracks the cover drive for a boundary.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, on the leg stump line. Wiaan Mulder nudges this to the square leg region and pinches a quick single.
- Aiden Markram 7 (9)
- Wiaan Mulder 6 (7)
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Short of a length, on off, punched off the back foot to the cover region.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Length ball, on the stumps, Aiden Markram blocks this out.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, BEATEN! A superb response from 'The Hoff'! Just holds the line of the off stump, on a hard length, and the ball straightens a bit off the deck as well, with possibly some extra bounce. Aiden Markram gets a bit flummoxed by that, as he brings his bat in front to block. Plays inside the line and the ball whispers past the outside edge. Perfectly crafted nut from Hazlewood.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Exquisite! Short of a good length from Hoff, outside off, Aiden Markram sees the ball closely, rocks back and punches through the cover region for a boundary.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Good length, angled at the pads, Wiaan Mulder steers it through square leg for a single.
Interesting tactics from the Aussies. In the Lunch break, Steve Smith and Beau Webster were practicing catching with their helmets on. It is never easy to catch at slip wearing a helmet and in recent memory, Joe Root was the first to advocate this. We saw Aiden Markram donning a helmet while fielding yesterday. Right now, none of the Aussie slip fielders have a helmet on but as the ball grows older and does not carry at a good height to Carey, suspect they might employ that tactic.
Josh Hazlewood to Wiaan Mulder, Nagging length, with a bit of nip back in from off. Wiaan Mulder tucks it to mid-wicket.
- Wiaan Mulder 5 (5)
- Aiden Markram 3 (5)
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Hard length, on middle and leg. Wiaan Mulder keeps it out and taps it to the cover region, for a quick single. A successful over for Starc and Australia, nonetheless.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Fuller and on off, pushed wide of cover.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! That's desperately played and placed! Back of a length, across off, Wiaan Mulder plays it late. Dabs the ball between the gully and the diving third slip fielder. The ball races away to the deep third fence for four.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Angled across the right hander, outside off, on a hard length. Wiaan lets it through.
Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder, Full, on the stumps, Mulder pushes it straight back to Starc.
Wiaan Mulder walks in next at number 3, replacing Ryan Rickelton.
What's happened here? Ryan Rickelton played a loose drive and got a nick behind. The Aussies are claiming the catch but Rickelton feels that it is a bump catch. Referred upstairs by the umpire and the first replay indicates that it is a clean catch!
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Australia get their first breakthrough and Starc, first frustrated the Proteas with the bat, has now drawn the first blood with the ball. Mitchell Starc bowls this full and gets an away shape from outside off. Ryan Rickelton tries to squeeze the ball through the off side, but it is a bit too full and hence, he does not lay the bat properly on it. The ball passes close to the bat and Alex Carey does the rest behind the wickets, with a dive to his left. EDGED? Or did the ball bounce off the bat? This is the question. However, the Aussies are celebrating in unison but there is no reaction by the umpire. Ryan Rickelton is not going anywhere. And the third umpire is summoned to check whether it is a bump ball. The first replay shows the ball bouncing before the bat. Next, the UltraEdge comes up and shows a clean spike when the ball is next to the outside edge. So, it is not a bump ball and is a clean catch. South Africa are 9/1 as Ryan Rickelton departs quite early.
A game comes to mind. It was between England and India, in Birmingham, in 2022. After posting 416 in the first innings, India managed a lead of 132. They then gave a target of 378 to England. And the hosts gunned it down with 7 wickets to spare. This was on Day 4 and then Day 5. Just goes to show, that in England, the pitches tend to get better as the days progress.
- Aiden Markram 3 (5)
- Ryan Rickelton 6 (7)
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nice and full this time around, aimed at the stumps. Aiden Markram presses forward and defends it right under his eyes.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Keeps the line of attack on the off stump, does Josh Hazlewood, on a hard length. Aiden Markram weighs on the back foot and punches through the cover-point region for two runs.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Straight and full, on off, Aiden Markram respects this and blocks it out.
Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram, Nagging length, on the stumps, worked to the mid on region.
Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, EDGED, SHORT! Full, outside off, Ryan Rickelton goes for the drive through the off side, but gets a thick healthy outside edge. The ball just doesn't get to the slip fielder. Beau Webster gets a bit of hand on the ball on his dive at second slip, and the ball rolls behind. Steve Smith from first slip chases it away as the ball slows down. A single taken.
Josh Hazlewood to Ryan Rickelton, Across the batter, and fuller, around off. Ryan Rickelton makes the leave.
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
