London/IBNS: Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma's gritty knocks on day three of the World Test Championship 2025 Final powered South Africa to inch closer to their second ICC trophy at the Lord's in London.

South Africa will need 69 runs more on the fourth day against the defending champions to win the WTC trophy.

In a stark contrast to their first innings batting when they were bowled out for only 138, Markram and Ryan Rickelton started their business on a positive note chasing 282 in the fourth and final innings of the Test.

Though Rickelton (six from eight balls) was caught behind the wicket off Mitchell Starc's full-length delivery that swung away and took the outside edge of the bat, Wiaan Mulder was quick to join Markram in building a partnership.

Starc brought Australia back in the game dismissing Mulder (27 from 50 balls), who was caught softly in the covers by Marnus Labuschagne when the batter attempted a drive.

But since then, Markram and hamstring injury-hit Bavuma rebuilt the South African innings brick by brick, stonewalled Aussie quicks and took reasonable chances to score boundaries driving the opponent skipper Pat Cummins run out of options.

In a nonchalant innings, Markram completed his eighth Test hundred and remained unbeaten at 102 from 159 balls (11 fours) as the day's play was called off.

Overlooking his struggles for singles and doubles due to the injury, Bavuma earned respect on day three in playing a captain's knock of unbeaten 65 from 121 balls (five fours) in taking his team closer to the victory line.

Earlier in the day, Mitchell Starc helped Australia to extend their overnight score of 144/8 to 207.

Starc, who remained unbeaten at 58 from 136 balls, ran out of partners when Josh Hazlewood was dismissed in the covers by Keshav Maharaj off Markram's ball.

South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince believes the team are under no pressure despite being on the brink of breaking a long-standing ICC title drought.

"One of the things we said before the run chase was that the game will finish when it finishes, whether that is tomorrow at lunchtime or whatever time, the end of the match will take care of itself," Prince said.

"For us, the most important thing is to remain in the moment. Stay in the moment. And obviously, from a batting point of view, that means play one ball at a time."

South Africa, if they win, will end their long ICC trophy drought on Saturday.

The first and the only ICC title South Africa won was in 1998 when the Proteas lifted the Champions Trophy.

(With additional inputs from ICC website)