Just two overs before tea on Day 3, Temba Bavuma, then on 6 runs, pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to undergo extended treatment on the field.
South Africa on the Brink of Victory in WTC Final
Going into Day 4 of the WTC Final, South Africa need just 69 runs to win and hold complete control with Aiden Markram (102*) and skipper Temba Bavuma (65*) ready to resume batting. On Day 3, there was uncertainty over whether Bavuma should retire hurt after suffering a hamstring injury early in his second innings. However, Markram urged him to continue so as not to disrupt their crucial partnership, which has brought them very close to claiming the title.
Two overs before tea on Day 3, Temba Bavuma, then on 6 runs, pulled up with a hamstring injury. He received extensive treatment on the field but managed to reach the interval. The injury has impacted his running between the wickets.
‘We had to make a big call’
Speaking to the media, South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince explained the tough decision regarding Temba Bavuma’s injury: “We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden’s rhythm.”
Prince added, “If twos are being turned into one or they can’t run the twos or the threes. Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue.”
Revealing Markram’s key influence in Temba Bavuma decision not to retire hurt, Prince said, “Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. Obviously, had Tristan Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba’s wickets intact, but you start a new partnership. They were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue.”
By stumps on Day 3, Markram and Bavuma were unbeaten with a partnership of 143 runs, and Markram had scored a stunning century. There are still doubts about Bavuma’s return after resting overnight and cooling down.
Prince praised Bavuma’s toughness and the team’s unity: “Temba is tough. Aiden has great respect for Temba. In fact, I think this team’s greatest strength is the unity that they have in this camp… they are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players, but they’ve got something special going on in that dressing room, and that sort of helps them to drag each other along.”
