Aiden Markram's Historic Century Leads South Africa to ICC World Test Championship Glory

Markram's Remarkable Performance at Lord's

London [UK], June 14: Renowned former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen praised Aiden Markram's century during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, describing it as the "finest innings by a South African in Test cricket."

Markram's century, along with Kagiso Rabada's impressive nine wickets and a determined half-century from captain Temba Bavuma, were pivotal as South Africa clinched their inaugural world title in international cricket, triumphing over Australia by five wickets at Lord's.

Post-match, Pietersen commended Markram's performance as "extraordinary," especially considering the immense pressure and expectations surrounding the match.

"This could be the best innings ever played by a South African in Test cricket. While it may not be the most aggressive or entertaining in the context of South Africa's Test history, the circumstances, the stage, and the pressure after a disappointing first innings make it remarkable. The weight of expectation when your country relies on you is immense. Despite losing Rickelton early, he managed to deliver something truly spectacular," Pietersen remarked.

Another expert, Sanjay Bangar, echoed Pietersen's sentiments, noting that Markram's dedication paid off as he found his rhythm, shifting the momentum in his favor. Bangar emphasized the importance of self-belief, which he attributed to South Africa's "collective strength."

"Markram embodied that belief. The camaraderie in the dressing room is crucial. When he urged Bavuma to stay with him at the crease, it demonstrated their strong bond. Such moments reveal a superhero, and today, that superhero was Markram, rightfully so," he added.

In the match, the Proteas won the toss and chose to bowl first, dominating the initial session with Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) reducing Australia to 67/4. A partnership of 79 runs between Steve Smith (66 off 112 balls, including 10 fours) and Beau Webster (72 off 92 balls, with 11 fours) helped Australia reach 212 all out.

Australia's bowlers, led by Starc and supported by Cummins and Hazlewood, restricted South Africa to 43/4 by the end of day one, with Bavuma (3*) and Bedingham (0*) remaining at the crease. A six-wicket haul from Pat Cummins (6/28) saw South Africa bowled out for 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead, despite a half-century partnership between Bavuma (36 off 84 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Bedingham (45 off 111 balls, with six fours).

In their second innings, Australia found themselves at 73/7, but a 61-run partnership between Alex Carey (46 off 50 balls, with five fours) and Mitchell Starc (58* off 136 balls, with five fours) helped stabilize the innings, leading to a total of 207 runs and a 281-run lead.

Rabada (4/59) and Ngidi (3/38) were the standout bowlers for South Africa.

During the chase, the Proteas lost Ryan Rickelton early, but a 61-run partnership between Wiaan Mulder (27 off 50 balls, with five fours) and Markram set the tone. A monumental 147-run partnership between Markram (136 off 207 balls, with 14 fours) and Bavuma (66 off 134 balls, with five fours) put South Africa in a commanding position. Despite Starc's efforts (3/63), Kyle Verreyne struck the winning runs, securing South Africa's first ICC title since the ICC Knockout in 1998.

Markram was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.