London, June 15: South Africa broke a 27-year title drought on Saturday with a five-wicket win over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s, chasing down a record 282 to claim their first ICC trophy since 1998.
Aiden Markram starred with a composed 136, anchoring the Proteas’ fourth-innings pursuit in a match dominated by seam movement and pressure. Despite losing captain Temba Bavuma (66) early on Day Four and two further quick wickets, South Africa reached the target before lunch with Kyle Verreynne striking the winning boundary.
The victory ends decades of near-misses for the Proteas in international tournaments, including heartbreaking losses in the semi-finals of the 1999, 2015 and 2023 World Cups, and the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The victory is a fitting reward for a South African team that has endured numerous close misses in ICC knockout stages.
Bavuma battled through a hamstring issue to contribute crucial runs on Day Three, while Markram remained unfazed by wickets tumbling at the other end, steering the innings with authority until his dismissal with just six needed. Rabada, another standout from the victorious 2014 U-19 World Cup squad alongside Markram, claimed nine wickets across the match to dismantle the Australian batting line-up.
“His innings of 136 proved the difference between two sides in a Test where ball dominated bat for the majority of the contest,” said an ICC analyst.
Australia, who were favourites heading into the match, saw their experienced bowling unit apply relentless pressure, but could not prevent South Africa from clinching what many are calling their greatest-ever Test victory.
Markram’s calm under pressure earned him Player of the Match honours, and the result sparked jubilant celebrations in the South African camp – a moment of redemption after decades of agonising exits.
The result also serves as a significant milestone in South Africa’s post-apartheid cricketing journey, underlining the team’s resilience and capacity to rise above its painful ICC past.
