Markram shines with a century, Captain Bavuma shows strength, SA on the brink of victory - Best11.in

Wow, what an incredible day of cricket we just witnessed! South Africa absolutely brought their A-game with a stunning batting display, and it’s all thanks to the brilliance of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma. Those two were like a brick wall out there, completely dominating Australia and putting South Africa on the verge of a massive World Test Championship (WTC) victory. I mean, the way they played, it’s like they owned the pitch! The conditions today were tailor-made for batting—bright, sunny, and just perfect for piling on the runs—and South Africa didn’t waste a single opportunity. They made the most of it, and you can just feel the momentum swinging their way.

Right now, at the close of Day 3, South Africa’s sitting pretty at 213 for two, chasing a target of 282. That means they’re just 69 runs away from sealing the deal! It’s so close you can almost taste the victory. The way things are going, it’s hard to see them slipping up, but cricket’s a funny game, isn’t it? You never know what’s around the corner. Tomorrow’s forecast hints at some overcast conditions, which could spice things up and maybe give Australia’s bowlers a bit of an edge. Can the mighty Aussies pull off something special and turn this around? Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess at this point, but right now, South Africa’s got the game firmly in their grip. It’s theirs to lose, and you can bet they’re feeling pretty confident heading into Day 4.

Let’s rewind a bit to how we got here. Australia’s second innings wrapped up at 207, which set South Africa a target of 282 to chase. Not a small ask, but definitely doable, especially with the form South Africa’s batters are showing. Early in their chase, though, there was a bit of a hiccup when Ryan Rickelton got himself out in a way that’ll probably have him kicking himself tonight. He faced just eight balls and scored six runs before throwing his wicket away—such a shame, because you could tell he was itching to make a mark. But after that, it was all about Markram and Kyle Mulder stepping up to the plate. Those two put on a masterclass, steadying the ship and pushing the score to 70 before Mulder got out for a solid 27 off 50 balls. Credit where it’s due, though—Mitchell Starc was the one who broke through, snagging both of South Africa’s wickets so far. The guy’s a menace with the ball!

But let’s talk about Aiden Markram for a second. He’s been an absolute rock out there, batting with this calm, confident swagger that’s just a joy to watch. And Temba Bavuma? Man, he’s been rock-solid too, standing tall and making sure South Africa kept the pressure on. By the time stumps were called, the scoreboard read 213 for two, and you could feel the buzz in the air—this is South Africa’s game to win, and they’re so, so close to pulling off something special. A win here would be huge, not just for the points in the WTC but for the morale of the team.

Still, we can’t count Australia out just yet. They’re the mighty Aussies for a reason, right? If the clouds roll in tomorrow and the ball starts swinging, who knows what could happen. Maybe they’ll find that extra bit of magic to shake things up and make South Africa work for those last 69 runs. But as it stands, South Africa’s in the driver’s seat, and it’s going to take something extraordinary to stop them. Can’t wait to see how this plays out tomorrow—it’s going to be an absolute cracker of a finish!