Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 saw the “momentum shift” decisively. This time, the change was firmly in South Africa’s favour, showcasing clear SA WTC Final Dominance. After being frustrated by Australia’s lower-order batters in the morning, South Africa (also known as the Proteas) fought back strongly. This was mainly due to outstanding innings from Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma. Now, they need just 69 runs to win their first-ever WTC title.
Australia’s Morning Fightback
Australia started Day 3 on a shaky 144 runs for 8 wickets. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada quickly took a wicket, removing Nathan Lyon for just 2 runs. This looked promising for South Africa.
However, Australia’s last-wicket pair, Mitchell Starc (who scored an unbeaten 58 runs from 82 balls) and Josh Hazlewood (17 runs from 54 balls), put up a vital fight. This partnership “proved vital” as they batted for almost the entire first session. They added 58 crucial runs, pushing Australia’s total to 207. This set South Africa a challenging target of 282 runs on a pitch that was getting harder to bat on (“deteriorating”).
South Africa’s Response and Early Blow
In their chase, South Africa suffered an “early blow” when Mitchell Starc dismissed Ryan Rickelton for just 6 runs. This wicket gave Australia some hope.
But Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder then built a steady 61-run partnership, which helped the Proteas calm down and regain control. Starc returned to break this stand, removing Mulder for 27 runs. From that point on, the match became all about the brilliant batting of Markram and Bavuma, which became the cornerstone of SA WTC Final Dominance.
Markram and Bavuma’s Masterclass
The third session of Day 3 belonged completely to the South African pair. Aiden Markram batted wonderfully to score a brilliant century, ending the day on 102 runs not out. Captain Temba Bavuma also remained unbeaten on 65 runs.
Their unbroken 143-run partnership for the third wicket was the highlight of the day. This strong partnership took South Africa to a commanding position of 213 runs for 2 wickets when the day’s play ended (“at stumps”). Their performance sealed the SA WTC Final Dominance.
South Africa in the Driving Seat
With only 69 runs needed for victory and still having eight wickets in hand, South Africa are now the clear favourites to lift the WTC 2025 “mace” (the trophy). The only way Australia can win is if they produce “something extraordinary” on Day 4, like a sudden collapse of South Africa’s batting lineup.
This strong position is a testament to the patient and aggressive batting shown by Markram and Bavuma, and the overall resilience of the South African team. They have truly shown SA WTC Final Dominance.
South Africa (2nd Innings) Scorecard Details:
Here’s a detailed look at South Africa’s batting performance in their second innings:
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls Faced | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | Not out | 102 | 159 | 11 | 0 | 64.15 |
| Ryan Rickelton | c A Carey b M Starc | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Wiaan Mulder | c M Labuschagne b M Starc | 27 | 50 | 5 | 0 | 54.00 |
| Temba Bavuma (C) | Not out | 65 | 121 | 5 | 0 | 53.72 |
Extras: 13 (8 byes, 3 leg byes, 0 wides, 2 no-balls, 0 penalty runs) Total: 213 runs (2 wickets, 56 Overs) Current Run Rate (CRR): 3.80
Australian Bowlers (2nd Innings):
Here is the bowling data in clean table format:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | No-balls | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 9 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 5.89 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 13 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 3.31 |
| Pat Cummins | 10 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 3.60 |
| Nathan Lyon | 18 | 3 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 2.83 |
| Beau Webster | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2.75 |
| Travis Head | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4.00 |
The Road to a Maiden Title
South Africa’s journey to a potential maiden World Test Championship title has been a long one, marked by great performances and tough challenges. Winning this WTC Final would not only be a historic first for the nation but also a huge boost for Test cricket in the country. The strong SA WTC Final Dominance on Day 3 has set them up perfectly for this moment.
The pressure on Day 4 will be immense, but with a solid foundation laid by Markram and Bavuma, South Africa is well-positioned to achieve their dream. The cricketing world awaits to see if they can maintain their composure and cross the finish line to become the WTC 2025 champions.
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