South Africa have finally put the haunting label of “chokers” to rest. In a remarkable display of resilience, leadership and talent, the Proteas secured their first ICC trophy in 27 years by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. This wasn’t just a win on paper – it was a narrative shift decades in the making.
South Africa’s Redemption at Lord’s: An WTC Glory Over 27 Years in the Making
The Long Wait Ends
South Africa have won only one major ICC title earlier and had won the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998. There was a succession of near misses, soul-destroying semi-final heartbreak and false starts – in 1999, 2007, 2015 and most recently the 2023 World Cup. Not the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they crumbled to India in a high pressure match. But this time, led by Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram with assuredness and poise, they showed a new-found resolve to silence years of criticism.
A Dramatic Chase for Glory
Tasked with what would have been a daunting chase of 282 in the fourth innings against a truly top-quality Australian seam attack, the South Africans initially appeared in an all too familiar position of high pressure. And yet, this time they did.
- Markram was the star of the run chase with an ice-cold and composed century – his eighth in Test cricket – of a sublime 136 at the top of the order.
- Bavuma struggled with a hamstring injury, played through pain and pressure and gritted 66.
- While Bavuma struggled to rotate the strike at times, his calm presence at the crease with Markram meant Australia never got a sniff.
The chase didn’t start smoothly. Starc had provided a breakthrough early on, dismissing Ryan Rickelton cheaply. Wiaan Mulder arrived to join Markram and temporarily settled the innings down before he fell for 29 to Starc again. It was then that Bavuma was joined by Markram, both of whom saw off the rest of the overs on Day 3, leaving South Africa to get 69 runs on Day 4 with eight wickets in hand.
On the last day, Australia attempted a comeback. Pat Cummins picked up Bavuma then Starc accounted for Tristan Stubbs for 8. But Proteas stood their ground. David Bedingham chipped in with an unbeaten 21, and he and Markram took the home side home in the first session of Day 4, setting off delirious scenes in the dressing room.
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How the Match Played Out: A Roller Coaster
The final began with South Africa winning the toss and electing to bowl under leaden London skies – a decision that paid dividends almost immediately. Kagiso Rabada was the chief tormentor with the ball, claiming crucial wickets as Australia were bowled out for 212 in their first innings. On a day where few Victorian batsmen showed the patience and technique required, Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) proved exceptions but the rest of the lineup struggled.
However, Australia hit back immediately. Pat Cummins was incendiary, taking six wickets to bowl South Africa out for a measly 138. The Proteas were back in the mould of uncertainly with the bat and giving away the edge, and they were trailing by 74 runs after the first innings.
Australia appeared set to dominate, but South Africa’s bowlers had a say in the matter. Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi sliced through the Australian top and middle order, which plummeted to 73 for 7 in their second innings. It seemed as though South Africa would have been chasing a target of less than 180, but Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc mounted a dogged fightback.
The eighth-wicket partnership was worth 61. And he was ably supported by Josh Hazlewood, as the pair compiled a 59-run stand for the final wicket – a record in ICC men’s finals. Starc’s unbeaten 58 was his highest in Test cricket and continued his phenomenal record as the batsman with the most fifties at No. 9 or lower.
Australia ultimately posted a challenging 282 – one that many thought would be simply too high for South Africa, based on their history. But this one would be different.
Markram and the Turning Point
Aiden Markram’s 136 will be remembered as one of the best innings to be played by a South African cricketer. Not just because of the quality of the strokeplay, but because of the context of facing bowlers of the caliber of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon in a fourth-innings chase in an ICC final.
It was a correct, emotionally charged innings that subdued Australia’s aggression, and one the Proteas dressing-room could believe in. The second he lifted his bat for the century, it was as if the game swung irrevocably back in South Africa’s favor.
Bavuma’s part, in defiance of injury, added another dimension to the story. His stubborn refusal to simply roll over and die greatly undermined him, and the way he found the rope when necessary showed immense determination. Between them, they showed a quality that had deserted South Africa in the past – calm under pressure.
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Redemption and a New Chapter
This historic triumph offers some form of closure to decades of despair and trauma experienced by supporters of South African cricket. The ghosts of the 1999 World Cup semi-final defeat to Australia – and one infamous run-out – appeared to finally have been exorcised.
The victory also stands as a broader symbol of the times. It is only the second time since 1998 that South Africa has won a major ICC tournament. It is also a statement victory over one of the most successful teams in the history of cricket, and at one of the sport’s most legendary venues.
In winning this title, South Africa becomes the first team which is not among the “Big 3,” ie India, England or Australia to win the World Test Championship. In some ways, this redresses a globally imbalanced elite of cricket, and reiterates the value of resilience and belief.
Match Highlights and Key Figures
- Australia 1st innings: 212 all out (61.2 overs)
- Steve Smith: 66
- Beau Webster: 72
- Kagiso Rabada: match-turning spells
- South Africa 1st innings: 138 all out (54.2 overs)
- Pat Cummins: 6 wickets
- Australia 2nd innings: 207 all out
- Mitchell Starc: 58 not out
- Alex Carey: key 8th-wicket stand
- 10th-wicket stand of 59 (Starc and Hazlewood): most in ICC finals
- South Africa 2nd innings: 282-5
- Aiden Markram: 136
- Temba Bavuma: 66
- David Bedingham: 21 not out
A Year of Drought-Breakers
The year 2025 has proved to be a year of redemption narratives. The first week of June saw RCB at last broke its virginity in the IPL after years of pain. And now, South Africa has followed suit internationally. There’s a symbolic resonance here – a kind of tipping of the balance, in which teams that have long been thought to underachieve are finally not doing so.
For South Africa, this victory is about much more than numbers. It redefines a generation. It’s vindication for years of nurturing talent, strategic planning and cultural rebuilding in the wake of disappointment.
Looking Forward
This can be rightly termed INCREDIBLE! With this, South African cricket enters a new era. The win at Lord’s it will give the wannabes confidence, and show young cricketers that Bavuma is a leader and Markram and Rabada are mature. It might even be the catalyst for a new golden generation of South African cricket.
This victory is not just a plaque; it’s a psychological break-in. It is a statement of intent from the new ruthlessly romance-free Proteas. They are competitors – whose best is as good as the very best on the biggest stages.
Conclusion
The “chokers” tag? Consider it dead and buried, once and for all. South Africa’s triumph in the WTC final was a defining moment in modern cricket. After decades of painful losses and mental scars, the Proteas have found their voice, their belief, and their place in the pantheon of champions. This wasn’t just a win – it was a transformation. And perhaps, just the beginning.
FAQs
Q1: When was the last time South Africa won an ICC title?
A: South Africa last won a major ICC title in 1998, when they claimed the ICC Knockout Trophy.
Q2: Who were the top performers for South Africa in the WTC final?
A: Aiden Markram with 136 runs and Kagiso Rabada with crucial wickets were key performers. Temba Bavuma also contributed with a resilient 66 runs despite injury.
Q3: What was the target set by Australia for South Africa?
A: Australia set a fourth-innings target of 282 for South Africa to chase.
Q4: What record did Starc and Hazlewood set in the final?
A: They set a 59-run partnership for the 10th wicket – the highest in ICC men’s finals history.
Q5: Why is this win significant for South African cricket?
A: It ends a 27-year ICC title drought, breaks the “chokers” label, and signals a fresh, confident era for the Proteas.
Reference
South Africa Clinch 1st ICC Title In 27 Years, Beat Australia In WTC Final
South Africa ends 27-year drought of major ICC title
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