Bavuma's Proteas are in touching distance of realising the African dream at Lord's

'CAUSE in my African dream There's a new tomorrow My African dream Is dream that we can follow' These are the lyrics that will be ringing in the heads of the Proteas as they went to bed yesterday evening.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

For Temba Bavuma's team require just 69 more runs on Saturday morning to realise their dream of winning the World Test Championship final here at rousing Lord's.

Bavuma is still at the crease too, fighting on bravely with a hamstring strain, undefeated on 65. His partner is none other than his able deputy Aiden Markram, who struck a career-defining 102 not out to edge the Proteas ever closer to their crowning moment.

The pair have already shared an unbroken 143-run stand for the third wicket with the Proteas in pursuit of 282 runs for victory - if achieved it would also be the second highest ever target achieved in the fourth innings here at Lord's.

The sceptics out there will no doubt remind everyone that the Proteas needed just 79 runs with the exact same numbers of wickets still intact in their very first Test after returning from isolation when they faced the West Indies in Barbados all the way back in 1992.