Aussies show class to South African hero Aiden Markram despite falling short in WTC final
South Africa have beaten Australia by five ix wickets to claim the World Test Championship at Lord's on Saturday.
Needing eight wickets to claim a miracle win, the Aussies started Day 4 brightly with two wickets in the opening session, but opening batter Aiden Markram (136) led the Proteas to victory.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins struck early to remove opposing captain Temba Bavuma in a major early boost.
Mitchell Starc clean bowled Tristan Stubbs to leave the South Africans at 4-241, still 41 short of victory.
But Markram was rock solid and looked on track to hit the winning runs until he picked out Travis Head and mid-wicket with just six runs required.
Recognising the magnitude of Markram's innings, every single Australian on the field went up to the batter to congratulate him on the match-winning knock in a classy move.
He received a standing ovation from the Lord's crowd as he left the field.
David Bedingham (20 not out) and Kyle Verreynne (seven not out) were there at the end with the latter hiting the winning runs, but Markram was the hero for South Africa.
The turnaround for the Proteas has been remarkable.
This defining moment comes less than 18 months after they sent a heavily depleted squad to New Zealand so their stars could stay home and play in the country's T20 league instead.
South Africa were predictably thrashed 2-0 by the Black Caps, but then went on to complete eight wins in a row to claim an unexpected Test title.
It was Australia's first loss in a world final since England beat them to claim the 2010 T20 title.
Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015, 2023), a T20 trophy (2021), and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval.
Their record in global finals goes to 8-4, dating back to the first ODI World Cup back in 1975.
Australia have been the cause of much of South Africa's pain, beating them in ODI World Cup semi-finals in 1999, 2007 and 2023.
South Africa's run chase was the second-highest successful pursuit in fourth-innings in a Test at Lord's, equal with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
In a final that exceeded the hype, South Africa boldly took it up to the Australians from the moment Bavuma decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
Beau Webster (72) and Steve Smith (66) carried Australia on the first day, rolled for 212 after Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada fired with 5-51 in his first Test since receiving a one-man ban for testing positive to cocaine.
But Australia's pace artillery struck back in typical fashion, running through the Proteas for only 138 thanks to Pat Cummins' 6-28.
During one of his greatest spells, the star quick became the eighth Australian take 300 Test wickets, joining teammates Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc.
But the first-innings lead of 74 quickly seemed like nowhere near enough when Australia suffered a collapse of 5-29 in just 45 minutes late on day two.
Starc (58 not out) and Alex Carey (43) steered them out of dire trouble, but batting became significantly easier at the start of day three to give South Africa's batters confidence they could complete the chase.
Smith in doubt for West Indies series
Star batter Steve Smith has avoided surgery after suffering a 'gruesome' compound dislocation of his finger at Lord's.
In a major blow for Australia's immediate and long-term prospects, Smith hurt his right little finger in a crucial moment of the World Test Championship final on Friday.
The 36-year-old left hospital to return to the team hotel on Friday night and was back at Lord's on Saturday watching on.
His finger was washed and disinfected at hospital, later placed in a splint.
The wound should heal in two weeks, and he will be able to play if he can tolerate wearing a splint while batting.
Smith will be required to keep his finger in a splint for up to eight weeks.
Australia's first Test against the West Indies begins in Barbados on June 25, followed by matches in Grenada and Jamaica.
One of the greatest red-ball batters of all time, Smith's possible absence will be a major blow after scoring four centuries from his past six Tests in a stunning late-career resurgence.
But Smith's misfortune could give out-of-form teammate Marnus Labuschagne a reprieve.
The 30-year-old Labuschagne averaged less than 30 in this WTC cycle over the past two years, with his last century coming back in July 2023.
A long-term No.3, Labuschagne moved up to open for the first time in his Test career for this match.
But the promotion failed to snap him out of his lean spell, making 17 and 22.
Teenage tyro Sam Konstas, who announced himself last Boxing Day, is set to be given an opportunity as opener for Australia's first tour of the Caribbean in 10 years.
If Smith can't play, Konstas could slot back in to open with Usman Khawaja, while Labuschagne would likely drop down to No.3.
But even Khawaja, who turns 39 this year, is under pressure to keep his Test career going after scores of 0 and 7 in this Test.
Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, former Australia captain Smith put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have dismissed Proteas captain Temba Bavuma for only two.
Smith immediately left the field in immense pain after spilling the catch that would have put Australia in the box seat to claim back-to-back WTC titles.
Instead, Bavuma combined with Aiden Markram for an unbeaten 143-run stand to put South Africa in reach of a famous victory by stumps on day three.
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