South Africa clinch World Test Championship title as composed Aiden Markram and determined Temba Bavuma end long ICC trophy drought
South Africa finally ended their long wait for an ICC trophy by beating Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s on Saturday. After years of heartbreak and near misses, the Temba Bavuma-led Proteas showed nerves of steel to take down Australia’s feared bowling lineup, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, winning by five wickets.
Since their 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy win this is South Africa’s first major ICC title, ending a 27-year drought filled with tough losses in crucial matches. The Proteas join a growing list of teams breaking long trophy droughts in 2025, with Royal Challengers Bangalore kicking off the celebrations earlier in June.
Chasing a target of 282, Aiden Markram and Bavuma were the stars of the final innings. Markram scored a brilliant century, his eighth in Test cricket, while Bavuma, despite nursing a hamstring injury, stood firm alongside him. Though struggling to rotate the strike at times, Bavuma refused to retire hurt and helped keep the pressure on Australia.
The chase got off to a shaky start when Mitchell Starc dismissed Ryan Rickelton early. Markram steadied the innings with Wiaan Mulder before Bavuma joined him as they survived the rest of Day 3. Heading into Day 4, South Africa needed just 69 more runs with eight wickets in hand. Despite losing Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs to Cummins and Starc, Markram and David Bedingham guided the team home, sealing a historic victory in front of a packed crowd at Lord’s.
The final saw South Africa captain Bavuma win the toss and choose to bowl first under overcast London skies. Kagiso Rabada wreaked havoc early on, helping dismiss Australia for 212 in the first innings. Only Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) managed to put up resistance. Australia fought back strongly in their bowling innings, with Pat Cummins taking six wickets to bowl South Africa out for 138, securing a 74-run lead.
In the second innings he match swung again in Australia’s favor, with Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi dismantling the Aussie top order, reducing them to 73/7. But a resilient partnership between Alex Carey and Starc added 61 runs, stretching Australia’s lead to over 200. Starc then teamed up with Josh Hazlewood to add 59 runs for the last wicket—the highest tenth-wicket partnership in men’s ICC finals across all formats.
Starc’s unbeaten 58 gave him the record for the most fifties by a batter at No. 9 or lower. Setting a target of 282, Australia looked to have the upper hand, but Markram, Bavuma, and the South African team had other plans.
After years of painful exits in World Cup semifinals (1999, 2007, 2015, and 2023) and the heartbreak of losing the 2024 T20 World Cup final to India, this victory brings some much-needed redemption for South Africa By claiming this title, South Africa has sent a powerful message that the world of cricket belongs to more than just the traditional “Big 3,” truly putting the “world” back into world cricket.