Lord’s, London | June 14, 2025: The “chokers” tag is finally history. After nearly three decades of near-misses and heartbreaks, South Africa have clinched their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title, defeating Australia by five wickets at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
This landmark victory ends the Proteas’ 27-year ICC title drought — their only previous triumph came in the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. Led by skipper Temba Bavuma, the Proteas overcame nerves, injuries, and a formidable Aussie bowling attack to script a gritty 282-run chase.
🧨 WTC Final – Key Highlights:
- Final Result: South Africa beat Australia by 5 wickets.
- Chase Heroes:
- Aiden Markram: Unbeaten 136 (8th Test century)
- Temba Bavuma: Crucial 66 despite a hamstring injury
- David Bedingham: Calm *21 to finish the job
- Match-Winning Partnership: Markram and Bedingham sealed victory on Day 4 morning, after Australia threatened to claw back.
🔄 How the Match Unfolded:
1️⃣ Australia 1st Innings – 212 All Out
- Top Performers:
- Steve Smith – 66
- Beau Webster – 72
- SA Bowling:
- Kagiso Rabada – 5 wickets
- Marco Jansen & Lungi Ngidi – 2 wickets each
2️⃣ South Africa 1st Innings – 138 All Out
- Cummins’ 6/28 led to a collapse, giving Australia a 74-run lead.
3️⃣ Australia 2nd Innings – 207 All Out
- SA Fightback:
- Australia were reduced to 73/7
- Starc (58*) and Hazlewood (17) added 59 runs for the 10th wicket – a record in ICC finals.
4️⃣ South Africa 2nd Innings – 285/5
- Lost Rickelton early to Starc
- Markram’s 136* anchored the innings
- Bavuma and Stubbs fell on Day 4, but Markram and Bedingham sealed a historic chase
📜 Proteas Break the Curse:
- 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023 – World Cup heartbreaks
- 2024 – T20 WC final loss to India
- 2025 – Redemption at last with the WTC Mace
This win is more than just a trophy; it’s a defining cultural moment for South African cricket — the rise of a team outside the ‘Big 3’ in world cricket.
🗨️ Celebrations and Reactions:
- The South African dressing room erupted as the final runs were scored.
- Fans across the Rainbow Nation hailed the beginning of a new era.
- Cricket pundits lauded Markram’s composure and Bavuma’s leadership under pressure.