Weather reports of potential rain on June 14 have sparked concerns for the ongoing World Test Championship Final at Lord’s — particularly for South Africa, who stand tantalisingly close to clinching their long-awaited ICC trophy. With just 69 runs separating the Proteas from history, inclement weather may become their biggest obstacle on a day that could otherwise deliver redemption for a cricketing nation long deprived of global honours.

According to AccuWeather, the morning of Day 4 is expected to be warm with “sunny periods and a passing shower.” There is a 55 percent chance of precipitation during the first session, coupled with 60 percent cloud cover and wind gusts reaching up to 48 km/h. A yellow warning for thunderstorms has also been issued between 7 PM Friday and 6 AM Saturday. Earlier conditions on June 13 were dry and favourable for play, but Day 4 may not promise the same consistency — and that could pose problems for the South Africans.

The Proteas ended Day 3 on 213 for 2 in pursuit of 282, powered by a gritty and gutsy 143-run stand between Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma. After Australia’s tail-end duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dragged their team to a formidable total with a record 10th-wicket stand, it seemed the Aussies had seized control. But South Africa struck back.

Markram’s defiant century and Bavuma’s pain-defying half-century — after suffering an apparent hamstring pull — turned the tide at Lord’s. The captain, dropped on 2 and visibly hobbling, pushed through adversity to steady his side. Markram, meanwhile, silenced critics after his first-innings duck, taking the attack to Australia’s world-class bowling lineup of Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon.

South Africa need 69 runs on Day 4, with eight wickets in hand and history firmly within reach. But the looming threat of rain now hangs over Lord’s like a cloud over their dreams — quite literally. If they are to end their ICC title drought, they’ll need the skies to hold up just a little longer.