South Africa ended a 27-year wait for a major cricket title by defeating Australia in a thrilling World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday.
The Proteas secured a five-wicket victory, shedding their long-standing reputation as chokers on the global stage. Their last major triumph was the 1998 Champions Trophy.
Resuming at 213 for two in their second innings with just 69 runs needed for victory, South Africa appeared comfortable.
However, captain Temba Bavuma, who bravely battled a hamstring injury sustained the previous day, was dismissed early for 66 after edging a delivery from Pat Cummins.
Tristan Stubbs joined centurion Aiden Markram, who was building on his overnight score of 102.
The pair steadily chipped away at the target, scoring 25 runs in the opening hour. Stubbs was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Starc for eight runs from 43 balls.
David Bedingham, who top-scored with 45 in South Africa’s first innings, came to the crease next.
Despite a setback when Australia used their final review on a close lbw appeal, Bedingham contributed 21 crucial runs as South Africa moved closer to victory before lunch.
Markram’s impressive innings of 137 came to an end with just six runs remaining when Travis Head took a superb catch off Josh Hazlewood.
The winning runs were then sealed by Kyle Verreynne, who narrowly escaped a caught-behind dismissal earlier in his innings.
South Africa overcame a first-innings deficit of 74 runs after scoring only 138, taking advantage of a pitch that had settled by day three to patiently build their lead.
This victory makes South Africa the third team to claim the World Test Championship title, joining New Zealand, winners of the inaugural 2021 edition, and Australia, the defending champions after their 2023 triumph over India.
-20250603201303.jpg)
