June 14, 2025: South Africa stands on the brink of a historic ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title as they closed Day 3 at 213/2 in pursuit of 282, needing just 69 more runs to defeat Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Aiden Markram delivered a masterclass in fourth-innings batting, remaining unbeaten on 102 — his third century in the final innings of a Test match. Supporting him was skipper Temba Bavuma, who overcame a hamstring injury to grind out a resilient 65*. Their unbroken 143-run stand is the highest partnership of the match and could seal South Africa’s first ICC title in 26 years.
Earlier in the day, Australia posted 207 in their second innings, thanks largely to Mitchell Starc’s gritty 58*. However, their bowlers were left frustrated as South Africa batted with determination and composure under pressure. A turning point came when Bavuma was dropped by Steve Smith — who injured his finger in the process — giving the Proteas the momentum they needed.
WTC Final 2025 – Day 4 Weather Woes Loom
However, Day 4 could see nature play a role. Forecasts suggest a high probability of rain interruptions, especially later in the day. AccuWeather predicts a warm and partly sunny start with temperatures hovering around 29°C, but increasing cloud cover through the afternoon and evening (up to 97%) could bring rain and delay the finish.
WTC Final Day 4 Timings (IST)
- 1st Session: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Lunch Break: 5:00 PM – 5:40 PM
- 2nd Session: 5:40 PM – 7:40 PM
- Tea Break: 7:40 PM – 8:00 PM
- 3rd Session: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Where to Watch
- Australia: Amazon Prime Video
- South Africa: SuperSport TV
Playing XIs
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
As the final day approaches, cricket fans around the globe wait anxiously to see if South Africa can finally clinch their maiden ICC title — weather permitting.