Aiden Markram's Remarkable Fifty in WTC Final: A Historic Achievement
Markram Shines on Day 3 of WTC Final
Aiden Markram showcased his talent on the third day of the ongoing World Test Championship final at Lord's, scoring a resilient fifty that kept South Africa's hopes alive in this crucial match. After a dismal start where he was dismissed for a duck off six balls in the first innings, contributing to South Africa's total of 138, Markram bounced back impressively. With Australia setting a target of 282 runs after taking a 74-run lead, the pressure was on the Proteas.
Markram Joins Elite Company
🚨 HISTORY BY AIDEN MARKRAM 🚨
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 13, 2025
– Aiden Markram becomes the 3rd South African player to score fifty in ICC Finals. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QpGG6T6sOP
Despite an early wicket for South Africa, Markram steadied the innings, reaching his half-century in 69 balls, including four boundaries. This achievement makes him the youngest South African to score fifty or more runs in an ICC final, joining the ranks of Heinrich Klaasen and Hansie Cronje. This match marks only the third ICC final in which South Africa has participated, with Cronje being the first to achieve this milestone back in the 1998 Champions Trophy.
Cronje's Historic Performance
In the 1998 Champions Trophy final, Hansie Cronje played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 61 runs off 77 balls, leading South Africa to their first ICC trophy against the West Indies. Jacques Kallis, however, was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul, which restricted the West Indies to 245 runs.
Klaasen's T20 World Cup Heroics
Heinrich Klaasen also made headlines during the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where he scored an impressive 52 runs off 27 balls, nearly securing the trophy for South Africa. The team fell just seven runs short while chasing a target of 177, despite Klaasen's remarkable innings.