South Africa secured a monumental five-wicket win over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC25) Final at Lord’s, ending a 27-year drought without a major men’s ICC title.
The Proteas chased down the 69-run target early on the fourth day to clinch their first senior ICC trophy since 1998.
The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground bore witness to a historic moment as South Africa outplayed Australia in all departments over four gripping days. The victory was sealed when Kyle Verreynne struck the winning runs, sparking jubilation among South African players and fans around the world.
Markram’s Match-Winning Brilliance
Aiden Markram was the standout performer, earning the Player of the Match award for his commanding knock of 136. His innings anchored South Africa’s reply and proved pivotal on a pitch that consistently challenged batters.
Calm under pressure, Markram crafted his century with patience and precision, blunting Australia’s potent pace attack.
Captain Temba Bavuma added a valuable 66 before falling to Pat Cummins, while Mitchell Starc accounted for Tristan Stubbs.
Despite the minor setbacks, South Africa’s composed approach ensured they crossed the line. Markram’s eventual dismissal to Josh Hazlewood came with the Proteas within touching distance of victory, but his contribution had already set the platform for a famous win.
Rabada Leads Bowling Charge
Kagiso Rabada delivered a stellar performance with the ball, taking nine wickets across both innings to dismantle Australia’s batting line-up. His fiery pace and accuracy made scoring difficult and kept South Africa in control throughout the match.
The WTC25 triumph was particularly special for Markram and Rabada, both of whom were part of South Africa’s 2014 ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning squad.
Their journey from youth champions to global Test heroes exemplifies the perseverance and growth of a generation of South African cricketers.
Ending Years of Heartbreak
This victory also exorcised the demons of past knockout heartbreaks for South Africa. From near-misses in T20 World Cups to semi-final exits, the Proteas had often fallen short on big occasions. However, this composed and complete team performance underlined their resurgence.
South Africa’s WTC25 crown not only ends a title drought but also marks the beginning of a new era in Test cricket for the nation.