ICC Crown Claimed by South Africa: A Five-Wicket Victory Over Australia in WTC Final Marks Their First Major Championship
Winning the World Test Championship: South Africa Claims Their First Major Title
After 27 long years, South Africa secures a significant triumph, defeating Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final at Lord's Cricket Ground. This historic victory marks South Africa's first major ICC title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy[1].
The Proteas set the stage alight, outsmarting Australia with an impressive display of resilience and composure. They breezed through the remaining 29 runs before lunch on Saturday, securing the win with plenty of time to spare, and igniting emotional celebrations in front of a packed crowd[2].
South Africa's unyielding performance saw them move from a precarious 213-2 overnight to 282-5, completing the second-highest successful run chase in the 141-year history of Lord's[3]. Australia fought valiantly, pressuring the South African side known for squandering winning positions on big ICC stages, but the Proteas stood firm, hitting only three boundaries in over two hours[2].
A visibly emotional Keshav Maharaj expressed his sentiments, saying, "We've come a long way as a team, as a country... After 27 years of pain, to finally get over the line is super emotional[2]." He continued, emphasizing diversity as their strength and the victory's potential for unifying the nation.
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The desperate Australians utilized all three of their reviews in vain within the first 90 minutes, but their perseverance paid off as they took the new ball and fought until the end. Markram, the opening batsman, was the colossus Australia could not topple until it was too late[2].
The final moments were filled with palpable tension as Kyle Verreynne hit the winning run, breaking the silence that had fallen over the crowd. Tristan Stubbs soon followed, casting a premature pall over South Africa's triumph as he was castled on 8 by Mitchell Starc[2].
South Africa, however, did not let Stubbs' dismissal discourage them. In a poignant moment, the Lord's crowd stood and applauded as Markram, six runs short of victory, was caught at midwicket by Travis Head[2]. The Australians chose instead to offer their congratulations to Markram on his match-winning knock[4].
South Africa's historical woes on ICC's biggest stages have long been a topic of conversation. With the 2025 World Test Championship victory, London now stands as one of the most memorable days in South African sports history, eclipsing heartbreaking losses in Birmingham (1999), Dhaka (2011), Auckland (2015), Kolkata (2023), and Bridgetown (2024)[4].
Recommended Stories
- From Heartbreak to Triumph: The Evolution of South Africa's Cricket Team Discover the dramatic journey of South Africa's cricket team from their last major ICC trophy win in 1998 to their miraculous victory at the 2025 World Test Championship.
- The Unforgettable Final Day: A Closer Look at South Africa's WTC Triumph Relive the thrilling final day of the World Test Championship, witnessing firsthand how the underdog South African team outmaneuvered Australia to secure their first major title.
Sources
- ICC Champions Trophy
- Cricket.co.za
- ECB
- ESPN Cricinfo
- AB de Villiers
- Sachin Tendulkar
Breaking news: South Africa's triumph in the World Test Championship final at Lord's Cricket Ground against Australia is not just a victory in sports, but a significant moment in the nation's history, marking their first major ICC title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. Meanwhile, the sports world eagerly awaits South Africa's performance in the upcoming ICC events, reflecting their evolution from years of heartbreaking losses to this unforgettable triumph.
