South Africa has been crowned the World Test Champions (WTC) 2025, defeating the defending champion Australia, here at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Saturday. This is the first WTC win for South Africa and a first loss for Australia. The WTC 2025 is also an end to the 27-year ICC trophy drought for South Africa, as their last one came back in 1998 when they won the ICC Knockout Trophy (now Champions Trophy).
The Proteas were chasing 282 runs at the WTC final, which is the second-highest run chase at Lord's, the Home of Cricket. It might be a flop show for them in the first innings with only 138 runs on board, but they emerged stronger in the second. At the end of the Final day 4, South Africa needed 69 runs to win, ending Day 3 at 213 for 2. They chased down 282-5 as D. Bedingham and K. Verreynne stood down batting at No.6 and No.7.
The Lord's surface posed some tough conditions for batting, as 28 wickets fell on the first two days of the WTC. Sunny weather, along with frequent rain showers, proved to be a hurdle during the final. On the fourth day, too, there was moisture on the field with an uneven bounce. South Africa sailed through with Markram's spectacular century, Bavuma's spirited knock, and Rabada's 'Big nine', leading South Africa to clinch their first WTC title.
Defending Champions Australia lost a WTC final for the first time in their second appearance since the commencement of the ICC title. They had won the 2023 WTC final against India. Notably, this is only the fourth loss for Australia across 14 ICC finals in five decades.
Mitchell Starc's 50 and his last wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood took the score to 281 runs for Australia; however, Aiden Markram ensured an easy chase for South Africa.
Markram's spectacular century, Bavuma's spirited knock, and Rabada's 'Big nine', here is a look at what contributed to South Africa's historic win:
The South African skipper's exceptional leadership helped his team reach a historic winTemba Bavuma has displayed exceptional leadership in the WTC and has been impressive with his batting as well. Out of the 9 test matches he captained, Bavuma has a striking win ratio, where his team has emerged victorious in eight of them, one ending in a draw (no losses so far).
Despite facing a painful injury in the hamstring, Bavuma continued playing, contributing valuable runs for his team. Bavuma's 147-run partnership with Aiden Markram sealed the win for South Africa. Bavuma and Markram started off together when South Africa was 70-2, and took the team to a score of 217.
Aiden Markram: Hero of South Africa's WTC win After getting out for a duck in the first innings, Aiden Markram bounced back with a thrilling century at the Lord's on the third day, making way for South Africa to lift the World Test Championship. This makes him the first ever batsman from South Africa to score a WTC century and the third one after Steve Smith (121) and Travis Head (163) in a WTC final. This was the eighth hundred of Markram in Test Cricket, which he hit in 155 balls. Markram scored a total of 136, standing on the other end throughout the second innings, falling close to the finish line.
After Markram's century, batting coach Ashwell Prince advised caution to fans, "Aiden's hundred and this partnership with Bavuma is right there in our cricketing history, but the job is not done yet." Well, now he might be contended with the job done, and done so well!
Kagiso Rabada's 9-wicket haul proved to be a major contributing factor to the team's winKagiso Rabada registered a total of nine wickets (including both innings) against Australia in the WTC final. This makes his name carved in gold letters on the Lord's home and away honors board. Rabada had his name etched in the away end in 2022 after a five-wicket haul against England. But the home board feat came when South Africa topped the points table at the end of the league stages.
Rabada is the only second player to have achieved this feat after former West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge. Rabada took five wickets in the first innings and four in the next.
Of course, the star players performed their job incredibly well, but South Africa as a team could stick together through thick and thin. They showed strength, resilience, and some good cricket throughout. Not only this time, but South Africa has always been so. No matter how many setbacks, heartbreaks, and some near misses in between, South Africa has proven its credibility and worth with every performance. Even though it's been 27 years, the win came, and came big with a WTC title.
South Africa's win is special for cricket and its fans worldwide. And why not, after close to three decades, the country finally wins an ICC trophy? The historic triumph in Cricket shall be remembered for generations to come...
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