London, June 14, 2025: South Africa clinched their first major global cricket title by defeating Australia by five wickets in a gripping ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, ending decades of heartbreak in knockout tournaments.
Chasing a target of 282, the Proteas resumed the fourth day on 213-2, needing just 69 runs to seal the win. Despite a few early jitters, they held their nerve to become only the third team to win the WTC, following in the footsteps of New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).
Skipper Temba Bavuma, who had battled through a hamstring injury to post a crucial 66, fell early on Saturday morning to his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins, offering a glimmer of hope to the defending champions. Moments later, Mitchell Starc bowled Tristan Stubbs through the gate, heightening tensions with 41 runs still required.
However, Player of the Match Aiden Markram anchored the innings with a masterful 136 — the only century in the match — and steered South Africa to the brink of glory before falling just short of hitting the winning runs. His dismissal, caught at mid-wicket off Josh Hazlewood, prompted a standing ovation from both sets of fans.
David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne completed the job, with Verreynne driving Starc through the covers for the winning single and sparking emotional celebrations in the South African dressing room.
The successful chase was the joint second-highest in Test cricket at Lord’s, behind only West Indies’ legendary pursuit of 342 in 1984.
Speaking after the win, an emotional Markram reflected on his missed opportunity in last year’s T20 World Cup final. “I thought a lot about that final last night — how hopeless I felt after getting out. Today, I just wanted to stay out there and get the job done. All the questions I’ve been asked in the past have finally been answered,” he said.
Bedingham, South Africa’s top scorer in the first innings, showed composure under pressure, surviving a testing spell from Starc and Hazlewood as Australia pushed hard for a miracle.
Australia captain Pat Cummins admitted his side fell just short: “You work so hard to get to the final, and missing out hurts. We had our chances, but South Africa were the better team in the end.”
The win is monumental for South African cricket, often branded as perennial underachievers in major tournaments. Saturday’s triumph not only sheds that tag but also marks a defining moment in the country’s sporting history.
South Africa’s bowlers, especially Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, laid the foundation with disciplined efforts earlier in the match, while the batters ensured a professional finish.
Maharaj summed up the sentiment in the camp: “This is special — not just for the team, but for every South African who’s waited so long for this. We’re no longer ‘chokers’. We’re world champions.”
With this victory, South Africa has completed one of the most emotional and redemptive chapters in international cricket — rewriting their legacy at the home of the game.
