London: As Australia fought to string out the final day of their failed World Test Championship bid against South Africa, they were also raging against the dying of the light for numerous members of the team.

Skipper Pat Cummins and his fellow bowlers tried everything to induce one more “choke” from the Proteas, to the point of a few verbal rejoinders reminding Aiden Markram (136) and Temba Bavuma (66) of their side’s history.

These exchanges added to the drama of the final day, as the Proteas chased down 282 to forge a five-wicket victory and win the adulation of a huge South African turnout at Lord’s. Where the end of the 2023 Ashes Test here had arrived amid ugly scenes of crowd abuse, this time it was unconfined joy for the “Rainbow nation”.

South Africa took the spoils at Lord’s.Credit: AP

By bowling tightly and slowing South Africa down, Cummins was effectively praying for a miracle from the second new ball, or a change in the weather, to bring salvation.

“It was kind of just draw it out as long as we can, try and for the pace bowlers, just try and go for two runs an over,” he said. “[Nathan] Lyon was looking really likely and you never know, maybe some clouds come over, maybe a new ball does something different, just try........

© The Sydney Morning Herald