London: They can no longer be branded as ‘chokers’ in international cricket.
In what was South Africa’s biggest moment in their cricket history, the Proteas erased years of disappointments with the ultimate triumph – winning the World Test Championship (WTC).
Going into the final at Lord’s as underdogs against defending champions Australia, South Africa defied the odds to win a low-scoring match by 5 wickets.
Having been skittled out for 138 in the first innings, South Africa chased down a stiff target of 282 on the fourth day to seal a memorable victory. Opener Aiden Markram, who failed to score in the first innings, tamed the potent Aussie bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon to stitch together an epic match-winning 136.
Skipper Temba Bavuma played his part as well, making a gutsy 66 despite a hamstring injury.
The victory tasted especially sweet as South Africa’s only other global title win was in the ICC Knockout (ODI) Trophy – way back in 1998.
They went close to laying their hands on another ICC trophy multiple times, only to lose nerve within striking distance.
The most recent of their meltdowns came last year in the T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown, Barbados, where they let India snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
South Africa also went down in four ODI World Cup semifinals – in 1992 (vs England), 1999 (vs Australia), 2007 (vs Australia) and 2015 (vs New Zealand).
The class of 2025 buried those ghosts at Lord’s, the Mecca of cricket, in a most convincing fashion.
Brief Scores
Australia first innings: 212 (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49)
South Africa first innings: 138 (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6/28)
Australia second innings: 207 (Mitchell Starc 58*, Alex Carey 43; K Rabada 4/59, Lungi Ngidi 3/38)
South Africa second innings: 282/5 (Aiden Markram 136, T Bavuma 66; M Starc 3/66).
Man of the Match: Aiden Markram.
