To be at Lord's on an increasingly glorious sunny Saturday was to witness a nation coming into full bloom. The morning mood was cloudy, and slightly cowed, as South Africa's batters did the absolute needful while the pressure was still too real.

Australia's wicketkeeper Alex Carey, right, reacts as South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on day three of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 13, 2025. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma didn't have the pleasure of finishing off what they started. It was fitting that Markram and Bavuma led the comeback with the bat as South Africa beat Australia by five wickets by completing a run chase of 282 at Lord's on the fourth day Saturday.