Playing a straight drive in cricket is always a significant moment, and for Aiden Markram, it was especially memorable. During the WTC final against Australia, Markram's boundary off Josh Hazlewood not only marked his 8th Test century but also boosted South Africa's chances of winning their first ICC title in nearly three decades.

Markram's well-timed straight drive was a hope killer for Australia, who had been trying to dismiss him and his partner, Temba Bavuma, for over two hours. The boundary in the 51st over of Day 3 brought Markram to 97, and he patiently waited for the right opportunity to complete his century.

When Hazlewood bowled a delivery down the leg side, Markram seized the chance and flicked the ball to the boundary, reaching his century with a tear in his eye. This emotional moment was captured by AB de Villiers, who recorded the historic occasion on his phone.

As the crowd at Lord's erupted in applause, Markram quietly celebrated his achievement, knowing that the job was not yet finished. With South Africa needing 69 more runs for victory, Markram's unbeaten 102 off 159 balls was just one part of what could be their greatest cricketing moment.

AB de Villiers, a legendary South African cricketer, joined in the applause, standing up to show his appreciation for Markram's century. The emotional scenes at Lord's highlighted the significance of the moment for both Markram and South Africa as a whole.