South Africa ended a 27-year wait for a major cricket trophy with a memorable five-wicket win over defending champions Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Resuming the final day needing just 69 more runs to seal the victory, the Proteas stayed calm under pressure, losing only three wickets before Kyle Verreynne struck the winning runs to spark celebrations at the iconic venue. It was South Africa’s first ICC title since winning the Champions Trophy’s predecessor back in 1998 — and only their second global triumph ever.
Australia, known for their never-say-die attitude, made South Africa work hard for every run, especially in the tense morning session. But the Proteas remained composed, playing with maturity and patience on a flat pitch that offered little to the bowlers.
Aiden Markram was the backbone of South Africa’s chase. The opener, who began the day on 102, eventually fell for a brilliant 136 with just six runs left to get. He batted for more than six hours, soaking up the pressure and delivering the innings of his career. Captain Temba Bavuma, who added 66, also played a key role with Markram in a vital 143-run stand the day before.
The match saw South Africa bowl first and rip through Australia for just 212, thanks to standout spells from Kagiso Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49). Despite resistance from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72), the Aussies were on the back foot from day one.
On the final morning, Australia threw everything at the Proteas — burning all three reviews in the first 90 minutes and taking the second new ball — but it wasn’t enough. When Markram finally departed, caught at midwicket, even the Australian players applauded his heroic knock. There were no wild celebrations from the Aussies, only respect.
The final winning moment came just 15 minutes later as Verreynne stroked the ball into the covers to bring South Africa home.
An emotional Keshav Maharaj summed up what the win meant: “It’s been 25 years of pain. To finally get over the line is incredibly emotional. This team, this nation — we’ve come a long way. Diversity is our strength, and this trophy will unite us even more.”
Critics had questioned South Africa’s path to the final, pointing out that they didn’t face heavyweights like Australia or England during the WTC cycle. But the numbers don’t lie: this win marked their eighth consecutive Test victory — four of those coming on foreign soil.
After decades of heartbreak — from Birmingham in 1999 to Bridgetown in 2024 — South Africa finally flipped the script at Lord’s in 2025. Against one of the strongest Australian Test sides in recent memory, the Proteas didn’t just win — they owned the moment. And in doing so, they wrote one of the most uplifting chapters in South African sporting history.
