South Africa has made history by winning their first-ever ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title, defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Chasing a target of 282, the Proteas began the day needing just 29 more runs and calmly reached the milestone before lunch on Day Four, sparking emotional celebrations among players and fans.
The victory ended a 27-year wait for a major ICC title, with the last one being the 1998 Champions Trophy. This triumph not only marked a significant cricketing achievement but also ignited national pride, with spinner Keshav Maharaj calling the moment “super emotional” and highlighting the team’s diversity as a unifying symbol for South Africa.
Aiden Markram, who began the day on 102, played a monumental knock, scoring 136 before falling just six runs short of the target. His near six-and-a-half-hour innings was central to South Africa’s historic chase—the second-highest ever at Lord’s in Test cricket history. Captain Temba Bavuma contributed a vital 66, and although he edged behind early on Day Four, his earlier partnership of 143 with Markram set the foundation for victory.
Australia threw everything into the defense of their title. They burned all three of their reviews within 90 minutes, attacked the stumps relentlessly, and even took the new ball to try to turn the tide. But South Africa, composed and steady, lost only three wickets on the final day. Tristan Stubbs was bowled by Mitchell Starc for 8, and Markram was eventually caught at midwicket by Travis Head off Josh Hazlewood. However, Kyle Verreynne sealed the deal with a cover drive to complete the win.
Despite their efforts, Australia could only congratulate Markram and his teammates. The crowd at Lord’s, known as the “Home of Cricket,” stood to applaud the remarkable innings and the magnitude of South Africa’s achievement. The match ended with more than five sessions to spare, a testament to South Africa’s dominance.
This victory also silences critics who questioned the strength of South Africa’s path to the final, noting they didn’t play England or Australia during the WTC cycle. But the team’s form has been undeniable—winning eight consecutive Tests, including four away matches, their second-longest winning streak in history.
For a team long haunted by near-misses and painful exits from ICC tournaments—including infamous defeats in Birmingham 1999, Dhaka 2011, Auckland 2015, Kolkata 2023, and Bridgetown 2024—this win at Lord’s in 2025 is a defining moment. It’s more than just a title; it’s a redemption story, a unifying triumph, and a landmark achievement for South African sport.
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