Markram’s heroic 136 leads a historic chase at Lord’s as Proteas beat Australia by five wickets
By Sports Desk
London | June 14, 2025
South Africa lifted their first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) title after a stirring five-wicket win over defending champions Australia at Lord’s, breaking a 27-year-long drought for an ICC trophy.
Chasing a stiff 282-run target in the fourth innings of the final, South Africa rode on a magnificent century by Aiden Markram (136) and a composed 66 from captain Temba Bavuma, scripting one of the most memorable chases in Test cricket history.
The victory marks South Africa’s first ICC title since the 1998 Champions Trophy, and completes a redemptive arc for a side often regarded as perennial underachievers on the global stage.
A Tale of Grit and Guts at the Home of Cricket
Opting to bat first, Australia were bundled out for 212, with Kagiso Rabada delivering a lethal spell of 5 for 51. South Africa, however, failed to capitalise and were dismissed for 138, courtesy of a sensational 6-wicket haul (6/28) by Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins.
Australia’s second innings saw them scrape together 207, bolstered by a defiant lower-order effort led by Mitchell Starc (58). This set South Africa a formidable fourth-innings target of 282 on a wearing Lord’s surface.
The Proteas, long haunted by past collapses on big occasions, stood resolute. Markram’s fluent strokeplay and Bavuma’s calm leadership under pressure shepherded the side through tricky spells. The winning moment came midway through the final session on Day 4, sparking jubilant celebrations among players and fans alike.
A Historic Triumph for South African Cricket
This triumph is particularly significant given the team’s journey over the past year. South Africa fielded a depleted side during their tour of New Zealand just months earlier and had not been considered pre-tournament favourites. But under Bavuma’s stewardship, they have now put together an unbeaten streak of nine consecutive Test wins, culminating in this historic title.
“This is not just a win—it’s a culmination of belief, resilience, and a refusal to be defined by past failures,” said Bavuma in the post-match presentation.
The victory also exorcises the ghosts of recent disappointments, including the narrow losses in last year’s ICC finals for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Teams in the Final
South Africa XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Keegan Petersen
Australia XI: Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland
Three Editions, Three Champions
With this win, South Africa becomes the third team to lift the WTC mace since its inception, following New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023). Their name now sits proudly alongside those of the sport’s giants.
For a cricketing nation that has so often flirted with greatness, June 14, 2025, will be remembered as the day South Africa finally arrived at the summit—not just as contenders, but as champions.
