Bavuma grit and Markram century put South Africa on brink of historic WTC win over Australia

LONDON (AP) — Hobbling captain Temba Bavuma and hundred-hitter Aiden Markram pushed South Africa to the brink of a sensational victory over Australia in a gripping World Test Championship final at Lord's on Friday.

Bavuma, elevating the drama with a strained left hamstring, and opener Markram capitalized on ideal batting conditions. They partnered for an unbroken 143 runs against one of Australia's greatest bowling attacks to have South Africa 69 runs from an historic triumph.

Chasing 282 to win, the Proteas were 213-2 at stumps on day three in a stirring bid to win a first ICC trophy in 27 years.

Bavuma was 65 not out from 121 balls, his running restricted but not his batting technique, and Markram was 102 not out from 159, easily the highest individual score of the final.

Defending champion Australia bombarded them with four of its top-10 all-time test wicket-takers — more than 1,500 wickets in total — but they couldn't part the Proteas pair, and hardly troubled them.

In South Africa's huge favor, the day three pitch flattened, offered the bowlers little and was far easier paced than the first two chaotic days, when 14 wickets fell on each. Only four wickets were taken on Friday, and none after tea.

South Africa won't go to bed entirely comfortably, though. The men’s team has a heartbreaking history in ICC tournaments of blowing winning positions. It is the reason its only ICC trophy is the ICC Knock Out in 1998.

“This would be massive for our country,” Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince said. "Both in terms of what we want to do in test match cricket and what we want to achieve going forward. We've fallen short in some white-ball competitions with teams that have been favorites at times. History says we haven't done it yet, so we have to knuckle down.

“Not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight. Whether I can fall into a deep sleep, I'm not sure!”

It's certain serial champion Australia still believes, too.

“In the morning we've got to come back and try and form a plan,” Beau Webster said. “The boys will be looking at any advantage we can get. Strange things happen in this game.

“We tried some new things with the bowling attack but they were just too good in the end ... and both of them were chanceless so complete credit to them."

The odds were in Australia's favor when South Africa's chase began straight after lunch.

To win, a work-in-progress batting lineup needed to equal England's most successful ever run chase at Lord's from 2004.

By the time pacer Mitchell Starc removed Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder, South Africa was 70-2 but flying.

There was positive intent missing from the first innings, and the strike was rotated constantly. Australia managed only three maidens in 56 overs, all by spinner Nathan Lyon.

Starc could have reduced South Africa to 76-3 when Bavuma, on 2, thick-edged to first slip.

But a helmeted Steve Smith, standing closer than usual to the wickets because the ball hasn't been carrying to the cordon all game, couldn't hold Starc's 138 kph delivery and broke his right pinkie finger. He immediately left for a hospital, was out of the final and probably the following three-test tour of the West Indies.

Given life, Bavuma was on 9 when he hurt his hamstring 10 minutes before tea. Prince said he was adamant about continuing but noticeably limping. The captain soothed his dressing room with pulls and sweeps and hobbled runs, each one rousing the South Africa fans. Bavuma reached his 50 off 83 balls.

Meanwhile, Markram was cutting and driving to 50 off 69 balls. The best of his 11 boundaries was a late cut off Starc expertly sliced between two fielders. His reaction to his eighth test century five minutes from stumps was muted. He had enough strength to raise his bat to all sides and receive applause and a hug from his captain.

South Africa's celebratory end to Friday the 13th contrasted starkly to the deflating start to the day.

The Proteas would have expected to begin the chase by bowling out Australia, resuming on 144-8, half an hour after the start of play. Lyon was dismissed early and gave Kagiso Rabada his ninth wicket of the match but tailenders Starc and Josh Hazlewood resisted for almost two hours.

Starc achieved his 11th test fifty, and first in six years. He and Hazlewood's third 50-plus partnership for the 10th wicket tied the all-time test record.

The stand ended on 59, Hazlewood out for 17 to part-timer Markram. Starc was not out on 58 from 136 balls. He'd entered at 73-7, when Australia led by 147, and combined mainly with Alex Carey and Hazlewood to conjure 134 more runs.

Those runs and South Africa's 20 no balls appeared to put Australia beyond reach. But Bavuma and Markram had the confidence and the pitch to defy nearly all expectations.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Mitchell Starc, left, reacts as South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma, right, and batting partner Aiden Markram run between the wickets to score on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Australia's Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field after getting hurt while fielding on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Australia's wicketkeeper Alex Carey, right, reacts as South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma reacts after playing a shot on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Ardie Savea scored a try and led the All Blacks superbly Saturday to a 43-17 win over France in the second test and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-test series.

Savea took over the captaincy from the injured Scott Barrett and under his leadership the All Blacks produced a more intense and physical performance than in the first test in which they scraped home 31-27.

The All Blacks dominated through their forwards against a French team that had 10 changes to its starting lineup from the first test and still lacked most of its Six Nations stars.

“This week we talked about our defense and we wanted to bring fire in that area and we did that in most parts of the game,” Savea said. “I proud of our boys for just sticking with it and doing a good job tonight.”

With greater control of possession, New Zealand was able to set a higher tempo than in the first test and play more often in the French half. With quick ball and an ability to dominate the collision area and offload in tackles, New Zealand scored six tries on two.

Four of those tries came in the first half and only two in the second in which the All Blacks were less clinical.

The All Blacks were dangerous around the fringes of breakdowns through Savea and Cam Roigard and unstoppable when they got the ball wide to fullback Will Jordan and winger Rieko Ioane who scored tries.

The credit belonged mostly to the forwards who fully atoned for a submissive first test performance.

After a penalty to Beauden Barrett, Roigard scored the first try of the match in the 14th minute when he linked with Savea who broke on the blindside.

Savea scored in the 23rd minute, pivoting away a lineout drive to touch down while New Zealand was reduced to 14 men with Beauden Barrett in the sin-bin.

Hooker Codie Taylor scored from another lineout drive in the 23rd minute, then backrower Tupou Vaa'i ended the first half with a try from a superb handling movement which involved Savea, Ioane and center Billy Proctor.

France made five changes at the start of the second half and produced better rugby and their first try in the 47th minute through fullback Leo Barre.

The All Blacks responded with tries to Jordan in the 54th minute and Ioane in the 62nd, again from slick handling.

France had the last say when they scored in the 77th minute through Ireland-born lock Joshua Brennan. But New Zealand regained the Dave Gallagher Trophy for the first time in seven years.

The third test will be played at Hamilton next weekend.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Emilien Gailleton of France is tackled by New Zealand's Emoni Narawa during the second rugby union international between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Codie Taylor reacts after scoring a try during the second rugby union international between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Kerry Marshall /Photosport via AP)

Leo Barre of France scores a try during the second rugby union international between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Elias Rodriguez/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Ardie Savea breaks a tackle as he makes a run during the second rugby union international between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Kerry Marshall /Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Tupou Vaa'i reacts after scoring a try during the second rugby union international between the All Blacks and France in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Elias Rodriguez/Photosport via AP)