Aiden Markram produced a truly emotional performance during Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. Chasing 282 for South Africa to win their first ICC title in 27 years, Markram brought up a historic century—his eighth in Test cricket—becoming the first Proteas batter to score a century in an ICC final. A straight flick off Josh Hazlewood brought up the milestone, but instead of leaping in celebration, Markram simply removed his helmet, gazed skyward, wiped tears, and embraced his captain—his subdued reaction reflecting both relief and the high stakes of the match.
In the stands, South African legend AB de Villiers was visibly moved. He jumped to his feet, cheered loudly, and recorded the moment on his phone—capturing the special scene of one cricket great applauding another. The affection between these two generations of South African cricketers struck a deep chord with fans worldwide.
Markram’s century was not just a personal milestone, but a critical innings in the context of the game. He shared a pivotal 143-run partnership with captain Temba Bavuma in tough fourth-innings conditions—an effort that put South Africa at 213 for 2, just 69 runs shy of a historic triumph by stumps on Day 3.
Former Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince praised Markram as “someone for the big occasion,” acknowledging the technical refinement and mental strength behind his performance. Indeed, Markram has now surpassed AB de Villiers in the number of fourth-innings Test hundreds—a testament to his talent under pressure.
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In summary, Aiden Markram’s emotional yet composed century at Lord’s, immortalized in AB de Villiers’s poignant reaction, encapsulated the drama and heart of South Africa’s charge in the WTC final. With just 69 runs remaining and eight wickets in hand, South Africa stand on the brink of a historic victory—a moment made all the more memorable by this beautiful display of passion and unity.
