Courtesy: ICC/Google
In the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between Australia and South Africa at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the latter’s vice-captain Aiden Markram showcased his batting mettle and racked up his eighth Test ton on day 3. Riding on his innings, the Proteas are on the verge of winning their first International Cricket Council (ICC) title after 27 years. Following the early departure of Ryan Rickelton, Markram stood at the crease and stabilised his team with a calm batting approach. The 30-year-old stitched a 143-run stand with his captain Temba Bavuma to help his team get close to the target of 282.
Noting his remarkable knock in the big match, legends Dale Steyn and Michael Vaughan showered praise on him. Former South Africa speedster took to his X handle and wrote, “S A U C E 100!!!!!!!!!” Former England captain Michael Vaughan also took to X and wrote, “What a special innings by Aidan Markram .. At the most important time against a World class attack he has produced one of the finest tons in a final .. This is a huge moment for a S.A Cricket .. 2025 is certainly the year of the under dog .. maybe that will continue for the Ashes.”
Keshav Maharaj saw hunger in Aiden Markram’s eyes
After the end of the third day’s play, Keshav Maharaj said he felt that Markram was voracious to be among the runs in the second innings after scoring a duck in the first innings of the match. “I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden's eyes today when he came off the field (prior to batting) as I think he wanted to rectify the mistake that he made in the first innings," said Maharaj to ICC Digital.
The 35-year-old South Africa spinner also remarked that the right-handed opener justified his tag of big player by rising on the colossal occasion at Lord’s. “Kudos to him to put that into place. He's a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly. There's no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord's in a final against probably a team that I don't think they've ever lost a final,” added Maharaj.
