Wahi purani kahani, South Africa ke “chokers” ka tag, jo har bade mauke par unka peecha nahi chhodta. Par yeh kya? Markram aur Bavuma ne mil kar aisa dhamaka kiya ki Australia ke bowlers bas haath malte reh gaye.
Day 3 ke stumps tak, South Africa ne 213 for 2 bana liye, aur ab sirf 69 runs ki zarurat hai jeet ke liye, woh bhi 8 wickets haath mein lekar. Markram ne 155 balls mein shandaar 102 runs thoke, jismein ek century bhi shamil hai, aur Bavuma, jo ek hamstring injury se joojh rahe the, ne 121 balls mein unbeaten 65 runs banaye. Yeh partnership koi chhoti-moti baat nahi hai—143 runs ka yeh unconquered stand South Africa ke liye ek nayi ummeed jaga gaya hai. Web:3,5,6,9,12
Yeh waise bhi koi pehli baar nahi hai jab Markram aur Bavuma ne mil kar South Africa ko mushkil se nikala ho. Yaad karo 2023 ka SA vs NED match, jab in dono ne 100 run ka partnership kiya tha aur 8 wickets se jeet dilayi thi. Post:3 Aisa lagta hai jaise yeh dono jab bhi saath aate hain, kuch khaas kar dikhate hain. Markram, jo ek zamaane mein underdog batsman ke roop mein dekhe jaate the, ab apne aap ko ek bade match-winner ke roop mein saabit kar rahe hain. Unki yeh century, Lord’s ke maidaan par, woh bhi itne bade chase mein, kisi bhi South African fan ke liye ek sapne jaisa hai. Aur Bavuma? Woh toh apne career ke sabse bade match mein apni leadership aur grit dikha rahe hain, bhale hi unka hamstring unhe pareshaan kar raha ho. Web:4,10,11
Agar thodi si baat history ki karein, toh South Africa ke liye Lord’s hamesha se khaas raha hai. 2022 mein, jab woh England ke khilaaf khel rahe the, tab bhi unhone yahan jeet hasil ki thi, aur uss team mein bhi Markram aur Kyle Verreynne jaise khiladi the. Web:2 Par yeh match alag hai. Yeh WTC final hai, jahan har run, har ball, har decision dil ki dhadkan tez kar deta hai. Markram ki yeh century unki 16 innings baad aayi hai, aur yeh dikhata hai ki unhone kitna pressure jhela hai. Bavuma bhi, jo ab South Africa ke WTC history ke top run-scorer ban gaye hain 1936 runs ke saath, apne aap ko ek true leader ke roop mein saabit kar rahe hain. Web:7,10
Australia ke bowlers, jo apne aap ko duniya ke sabse khatarnak bowling attack kehte hain, Day 3 par bilkul bebas nazar aaye. Nathan Lyon, jo aksar aise situations mein apna jadoo chala deta hai, is baar koi kamaal nahi dikha paya. Pat Cummins, jinke paas 300 Test wickets ka taj hai, ne bhi apne field placements mein thodi si kami chhodi, jo shayad unhe bhari pad sakti hai. Web:3,8,11 South Africa ke fans, jo hamesha apni team ke “choke” karne ki baat sunte aaye hain, ab apne players ke saath khade hain, aur Lord’s ke stands mein unki awaaz ghoonj rahi hai. Web:3
Ab yeh mat bhoolo, South Africa ke liye yeh jeet sirf ek trophy nahi, balki unki cricket history ka ek naya chapter ho sakta hai. Markram aur Bavuma ne apne dilon mein ek aag jala rakhi hai, aur woh is mauke ko haath se jaane nahi dena chahte. Jab woh crease par hote hain, toh lagta hai jaise woh na sirf Australia se, balki apne purane “chokers” ke tag se bhi lad rahe hain. Ek chhoti si misal dekhiye—1999 World Cup mein jab South Africa semi-final mein Australia ke khilaaf choke kar gayi thi, tab se lekar aaj tak, har bada match unke liye ek imtihaan raha hai. Par is baar, Markram aur Bavuma ke saath, lagta hai woh is imtihaan mein pass hone ke kareeb hain.
Lekin, thodi si chinta toh banta hai, na? Cricket ek aisa khel hai jahan ek chhota sa mistake, ek galat shot, ya ek shandaar delivery sab kuch palat sakti hai. South Africa ko sirf 69 runs chahiye, par Australia ke paas ab bhi Starc, Cummins, aur Josh Hazlewood jaise haathiyar hain. Web:4,12 Agar kal subah South Africa ke yeh dono stalwarts out ho gaye, toh kya hoga? Wahi purani kahani, wahi “chokers” ka tag, aur wahi South African fans ka dil tootna. Abhi ke liye toh South Africa ke fans sapne dekh sakte hain, par kal ka din batayega ki yeh sapna haqeeqat banega ya phir ek baar phir se toot jayega.
