South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has shed light on the team’s mindset as they edge closer to chasing down a challenging target of 282 in the fourth innings of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. He also commended the composed efforts of Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma, who have guided South Africa to the brink of a historic victory.
Australia set a competitive target after Mitchell Starc’s gritty half-century pushed their total close to 300. Starc then made an early breakthrough with the ball, removing Ryan Rickelton with the new ball. However, Mulder counter-attacked and was well supported by Markram, as both batters executed a clear plan to punish any loose deliveries—an approach Mulder highlighted after play.
“We spoke about matching whatever total they posted. There was far less fear of failure in this innings,” Mulder said at stumps on Day 2. “We made a conscious decision to capitalise on anything loose. Batting at number three is a new experience for me—I’ve not done it before in first-class cricket.”
Mulder delighted with Markram-Bavuma partnership
He added: “It was a superb session. Both Aiden and Temba have been through a lot and you could see the effort they put in—they looked drained. It’s heartening to see two players who’ve given so much to South African cricket producing something so special. The pitch felt slower today, with less movement off the surface. Even while we were bowling, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, and I’m glad we made the most of those conditions.”
South Africa now stand on the verge of a historic moment. With Markram and Bavuma well set at the crease, they require just 69 more runs with eight wickets in hand to end the nation’s long-standing wait for an ICC trophy. On a surface that continues to slow down, the Proteas will be eager to complete the job and etch their names into the history books.
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