Markram helps South Africa close in on Test Championship victory

Victory for South Africa in the World Test Championship final would be "massive for the country" as they bid to shed their tag as professional sport's serial bottlers, according to batting coach Ashwell Prince.

They head into day four of the match at Lord's with 69 runs needed to beat Australia and with eight wickets still in hand.

South Africa opener Aiden Markram will resume unbeaten on 102 alongside skipper Temba Bavuma, who is 65 not out, after the pair spearheaded a dominant batting display on Friday.

Should the Proteas wrap up the win it would go a long way towards banishing a nickname they have come to despise: chokers.