South Africa Create History at Lord’s: In a gripping contest played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the South African national cricket team scripted history by defeating Australia by five wickets in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025. The high-stakes battle, which commenced on June 11, concluded dramatically on Day 4, as the Proteas chased down a target of 282 runs to clinch their maiden WTC title — their first major ICC trophy in nearly three decades.
Led by Temba Bavuma, South Africa displayed grit, determination, and resilience across all four days to finally break their ICC title drought. The Australian side, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, fought hard, but it was South Africa’s day at the Home of Cricket.
Day 1: Australia Collapse After Early Promise
Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends early. Australia found themselves reeling at 67 for 4 after a disastrous start. However, middle-order stalwarts Steve Smith and Beau Webster held the innings together, pushing the score close to the 150-run mark.
Beau Webster top-scored with a well-crafted 72 off 92 deliveries, laced with 11 boundaries. Steve Smith chipped in with 66, but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure. South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada led the charge with the ball, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul, while Marco Jansen supported well with three wickets. Australia were bowled out for 212 in 56.4 overs.
Day 2: South Africa Struggles, Cummins Stars with the Ball
If Australia’s collapse was dramatic, South Africa’s first innings was even more fragile. The Proteas stumbled to 30 for 4, before Bavuma and David Bedingham put together a stabilizing partnership. Bedingham was the top scorer with 45 runs from 111 balls, including six boundaries. Bavuma added 36 before falling.
However, the South African innings never fully recovered and they were bowled out for just 138 in 57.1 overs. Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins was the standout bowler with exceptional figures of 6 for 37. Mitchell Starc chipped in with two wickets.
Day 3: Starc’s Grit with the Bat Helps Australia Set a Tricky Target
Australia’s second innings began in a horror fashion yet again. At one stage, they were tottering at 73 for 7, before Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc brought stability. Starc played a valiant knock, remaining unbeaten on 58 from 136 balls, hitting five fours. Carey supported with a gritty 43 as Australia posted 207 in 65 overs.
South African bowlers kept things tight, with Rabada once again leading the attack with 4 wickets. Lungi Ngidi took three scalps, leaving South Africa with a target of 282 to win the final.
Day 4: Markram’s Masterclass Seals the Historic Win
Chasing 282 on a pitch that had begun to wear, South Africa had an early setback, losing their first wicket at just 9 runs. But what followed was a batting masterclass by opener Aiden Markram, who rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion.
Markram anchored the chase with a sensational knock of 136 runs from 207 balls, decorated with 14 boundaries. He found a reliable partner in skipper Temba Bavuma, who contributed 66 runs. Together, they weathered the Aussie storm and stitched vital partnerships to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Despite the best efforts from Mitchell Starc, who took three wickets, and lone strikes from Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, South Africa successfully chased down the target in 83.4 overs, finishing at 283/5.
A New Chapter in South African Cricket
This victory marked South Africa’s first-ever ICC World Test Championship title and ended a 27-year-long wait for a major ICC trophy — the last being the ICC KnockOut Trophy in 1998. The win was not just a triumph of skill, but a symbol of South African cricket’s resurgence on the global stage.
Captain Temba Bavuma, who led from the front with both bat and tactics, called it “a moment generations of South Africans have waited for.” Aiden Markram’s century will go down in history as one of the finest in a high-pressure final.
Score Summary – WTC Final 2025:
Australia 1st Innings: 212 (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/48)
South Africa 1st Innings: 138 (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6/37)
Australia 2nd Innings: 207 (Mitchell Starc 58*, Alex Carey 43; Kagiso Rabada 4/51)
South Africa 2nd Innings: 283/5 (Aiden Markram 136, Temba Bavuma 66; Mitchell Starc 3/67)
Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets
South Africa’s incredible performance in the final of the World Test Championship 2025 will be etched in cricketing folklore. With potent pace bowling, calm leadership, and match-winning knocks, they have finally laid their hands on an ICC title that had eluded them for decades.
Their journey from heartbreaks to glory is a testament to the fighting spirit of South African cricket — and the world watched in awe as they lifted the mace at Lord’s.
