Aiden Markram guided South Africa's response in the run chase of 282 with a gritty century to lead his team to 213/2 on the end of 3rd day of the 2025 World Test Championship Final. After frustrating South Africa with the bat in the morning session to score a potentially match-altering fifty, Mitchell Starc provided two vital blows with the ball in the chase too to keep Australia on the tail of the Proteas. With the sun shining in London, batting was more straightforward and the second-wicket combination of Markram and Wiaan Mulder (27) put together a 61-run partnership to see South Africa overcome an early blow. As early as in the third over, Ryan Rickelton unnecessarily went for a full outswinger from Starc and edged behind to the 'keeper to get out for a mere six. But Mulder and Markram complemented each other well to send an airing of the bad balls through the covers and leave the good ones in respect as they steadied the ship. Also Read | Harbhajan Singh reacts to Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from England tour South Africa's run-rate was still spanking, and with almost a boundary an over for the first 10 overs, Australia introduced Nathan Lyon before the drinks break itself. Markram brought up the half-century of the stand on the opposite side of the interval, but Starc came back and delivered a breakthrough in the blink of an eye. A change of pace round the wicket clicked at once as Mulder chipped a full ball to Marnus Labuschagne at cover to depart after a stodgy hand of 27. Temba Bavuma received an early respite on two when Steve Smith dropped the South African captain at wide first slip, hurting his hand in the process and walking off later. Markram and Bavuma, however, forgot all this in a hurry and rotated the strike nicely to maintain the runs at a decent rate. At Tea, South Africa edged a little ahead with just 188 more required. And with the help of beautiful stand between Temba and Markran South Africa is just 96 runs far from winning the WTC 2025.