It was around 12:15 pm and Australia was all out for 207 in the second innings. The last wicket partnership had frustrated South Africa and I was doing a breaking video for Revsportz from just outside the Grace Gate. With a few South African fans around, it was kind of awkward to say that Australia had almost sealed the deal. In what has so far been a low scoring game, 282 seemed a mountain to climb. More against an attack that had the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. Australia knows how to win big moments and that’s what I said in my video. Just when I was wrapping up, someone next to me started playing the popular Shakira song: “Its time for Africa”. I smiled and thought may be. Just may be. In sport you never know.
As I write this piece for Moneycontrol having come back from Lord’s, the may be has become a much more certain may be. South Africa is indeed on the cusp of history and cricket stands to get a new world order on Saturday morning at Lords. Just 69 runs is what they need and 8 wickets are still standing. Aiden Markram played one of the finest knocks you will see under pressure and coming out on a pair, this was something special. Calm and composed, at no point did he let the Australians dominate and as the innings went on some of his shots were simply breathtaking. Take the one against Starc pretty late in the day. Cummins and Starc spent close to two minutes setting the off side field. And then Starc bowled the channel. Markram, hugely confident by then, stayed late and played the perfect shot through point for four. It wasn’t about power. It was elegance and timing. Test cricket at its pristine best.
If it was Markram on the one end, it was a hobbling Temba Bavuma on the other. Constrained by an injured hamstring, Bavuma put in everything he had into this innings. He ran, he hobbled, he pushed himself at every step. Defeat isn’t an option for him and he knows this could well be the greatest moment in South African cricket history if they win it. The effort was fantastic to see and he got a rousing reception from the Lord’s crowd as he completed a much deserved half century.
Markram on the other hand had an eye on the clock as he was nearing three figures. With just a minute or two left, he played the most exquisite flick to bring up one of his best ever hundreds. The South African crowd had found voice and AB DeVilliers, watching from the stands, couldn’t stop smiling. He had his phone camera out as he was filming every bit of Markram as he reached the hundred.
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South Africa will know the job isn’t done yet. Australia will throw everything at them on the morning of Day 4 and with the ball starting to turn, Lyon could surely be a factor. But then this is their opportunity. One that they have been waiting for years and decades. If they win, it will be the greatest moment in their cricket and also a huge day for world cricket at large. A new power will emerge and that’s not necessarily bad for the sport.
If it happens, as seems likely, this is going to be such a great result, not just for South Africa, but for world cricket. A year ago, I asked friends in SA if Bavuma could be the Kolisi of cricket. Maybe?
Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 13, 2025
As Harsha Bhogle tweeted, Bavuma could be the Siya Kolisi equivalent and it could be a major moment in South African sport. In sum, Day 4 has been set up. For the one hour or so of cricket, fans will get their monies worth. A day when we could indeed see the birth of a new world order. A new rainbow and a new beginning. And yes I will be at Lord’s to document it for Moneycontrol!
(Boria Majumdar is at Lord's to cover the World Test Championship final for Moneycontrol)
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