Graeme Smith lauds South Africa spirit in Lord’s WTC25 Final tussle

“We’ve seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match,” Smith began.

“The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game.

“It’s been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you’ve seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface.

“And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma).

“Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying ‘extend that partnership, extend that partnership’.

“And that’s what they’ve done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship.”