South Africa’s Historic Triumph: Breaking a 27-Year Drought to Win the 2025 ICC World Test Championship.
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South Africa win World Test Championship
On June 14, 2025, South Africa etched their name into cricket history by clinching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title, defeating Australia by 5 wickets at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. This victory marked the end of a 27-year ICC trophy drought for the Proteas, their first major title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. For cricket lovers worldwide, this final was a thrilling spectacle, showcasing resilience, skill, and a masterclass in Test cricket. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the match, its historical significance, key performances, and detailed scorecards, with corrected details for South Africa’s 2nd innings.
Historical Context: South Africa’s Road to Glory
The ICC World Test Championship, introduced in 2019, is the pinnacle of Test cricket, designed to crown the best Test-playing nation over a two-year cycle. South Africa’s journey to the 2025 final was a tale of redemption. After a challenging start to the 2023–2025 WTC cycle, including a 2-0 series loss in New Zealand with a second-string side, the Proteas roared back with a string of dominant performances:
- Key Matches:
- South Africa vs. India (2023): A commanding innings and 32-run victory, with Dean Elgar’s century and Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul setting the tone.
- South Africa vs. Bangladesh (2024): A crushing innings and 273-run win in Chittagong, powered by centuries from Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder.
- South Africa vs. Sri Lanka (2024): A 2-0 series sweep, with Keshav Maharaj’s five-wicket haul in the second Test sealing a 109-run victory.
- South Africa vs. Pakistan (2024): A dramatic two-wicket win in Centurion, where Marco Jansen and Rabada’s 51-run partnership chased down 148 to secure South Africa’s spot in the final.
South Africa topped the WTC 2023–2025 standings with a points percentage (PCT) of 66.67%, winning nine Tests under Temba Bavuma’s captaincy without a defeat. Their maiden WTC final appearance was a testament to their consistency and ability to seize crucial moments.
The 2025 WTC Final: South Africa vs. Australia
The final, played from June 11 to June 14, 2025, pitted South Africa against defending champions Australia, who had won the 2023 WTC final against India. Held at Lord’s, the match was a gripping contest that showcased the essence of Test cricket—patience, strategy, and moments of brilliance.
Match Summary
- Dates: June 11–14, 2025 (with June 15 as a reserve day)
- Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
- Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
- Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets, chasing 282 in the fourth innings.
- Man of the Match: Aiden Markram (South Africa) for his match-defining 136 in the second innings.
Innings-Wise Scorecard and Analysis
Australia 1st Innings: 212/10 (56.4 overs)
- Top Performers:
- Beau Webster: 72 (110 balls, 9 fours)
- Steve Smith: 66 (104 balls, 8 fours)
- Bowling Highlights:
- Kagiso Rabada: 5/51 (15 overs), becoming the first South African to take a five-wicket haul in a WTC final.
- Marco Jansen: 3/49 (14 overs)
- Keshav Maharaj: 1/42 (12 overs)
Australia struggled under cloudy conditions, with Rabada’s fiery spell, including a five-wicket haul, triggering a collapse. Webster and Smith’s fifties provided resistance, but South Africa’s disciplined bowling restricted Australia to 212. Rabada’s milestone made him only the second South African after Jacques Kallis to claim a five-wicket haul in a major ICC final.
South Africa 1st Innings: 138/10 (57.1 overs)
- Top Performers:
- David Bedingham: 45 (76 balls, 6 fours)
- Temba Bavuma: 36 (88 balls, 4 fours)
- Bowling Highlights:
- Pat Cummins: 6/28 (15 overs), including his 300th Test wicket.
- Mitchell Starc: 2/41 (14 overs)
- Josh Hazlewood: 1/35 (12 overs)
South Africa slumped to 43/4 early on Day 2, with Bavuma and Bedingham’s 64-run stand offering brief resistance. Cummins’ sensational spell, including a six-wicket haul, gave Australia a 74-run lead. The pitch assisted seamers, but South Africa’s batting frailties were exposed.
Australia 2nd Innings: 207/10 (65 overs)
- Top Performers:
- Mitchell Starc: 58* (136 balls, 6 fours), his first Test fifty since 2019.
- Alex Carey: 43 (80 balls, 5 fours)
- Bowling Highlights:
- Kagiso Rabada: 4/59 (16 overs)
- Lungi Ngidi: 3/38 (15 overs)
- Aiden Markram: 1/10 (3 overs), dismissing Hazlewood to end Australia’s innings.
Australia collapsed from 28/0 to 73/7, with Rabada and Ngidi dismantling the top order. A 61-run stand between Carey and Starc, followed by a 59-run last-wicket partnership between Starc and Hazlewood (17), set South Africa a challenging target of 282. The pitch eased on Day 3, favoring batsmen.
South Africa 2nd Innings: 282/5 (83.4 overs)
- Top Performers:
- Aiden Markram: 136 (207 balls, 14 fours), a match-defining century that anchored the chase until he was dismissed with 6 runs needed.
- Temba Bavuma: 66 (122 balls, 6 fours), battling a hamstring injury before being caught by Alex Carey off Pat Cummins early on Day 4.
- David Bedingham: 21* (49 balls, 2 fours)
- Kyle Verreynne: 4* (13 balls, 1 four), hitting the winning runs through cover point.
- Bowling Highlights:
- Mitchell Starc: 3/66 (18 overs), dismissing Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, and Tristan Stubbs.
- Pat Cummins: 1/59 (17 overs), removing Bavuma early on Day 4.
- Josh Hazlewood: 1/58 (17 overs), dismissing Markram late in the chase.
- Nathan Lyon: 0/45 (14 overs), challenging but unable to break through.
South Africa’s chase began aggressively, reaching 47/1 in 10 overs compared to 30/3 in their first innings. Early losses of Ryan Rickelton (6, caught by Carey off Starc) and Wiaan Mulder (27, caught by Labuschagne off Starc) put pressure on the middle order. Markram and Bavuma’s 148-run partnership for the third wicket was the cornerstone of the chase, with Markram’s fluent strokeplay and Bavuma’s resilience despite a hamstring injury sustained on Day 3. South Africa ended Day 3 at 213/2, needing 69 runs. On Day 4, Cummins dismissed Bavuma (66), and Starc removed Tristan Stubbs (8). Markram fell to Hazlewood at 276/5, but Bedingham and Verreynne calmly guided South Africa to victory, with Verreynne’s drive sealing the historic win.
Key Performances
- Man of the Match: Aiden Markram’s 136 in the second innings was a career-defining knock, steering South Africa through a tense chase. His composure and precision earned him the award.
- Best Batsman: Aiden Markram (SA) for his match-winning 136, becoming the third player and first South African to score a century in a WTC final.
- Best Bowler: Kagiso Rabada (SA) for his 5/51 in Australia’s first innings, setting the tone for South Africa’s fightback.
- Notable Mentions:
- Temba Bavuma’s 66 in the second innings, despite a hamstring injury, showcased his leadership and grit.
- Mitchell Starc’s all-round contribution (58* and 3/66) kept Australia competitive.
- Steve Smith’s 66 in the first innings set a record for the most Test runs at Lord’s by a visiting batter (591*).
Records Broken and Milestones Achieved
- South Africa’s First WTC Title: The Proteas became the third team to win the WTC, following New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).
- Aiden Markram: First South African to score a century in a WTC final, with 136 runs.
- Kagiso Rabada: First South African to take a five-wicket haul in a WTC final, surpassing Jacques Kallis’s record for a five-wicket haul in a major ICC final.
- Pat Cummins: Took his 300th Test wicket and recorded the best Test figures by a captain (6/28 in the tournament cycle).
- Mitchell Starc: Surpassed Mohammed Shami for the most wickets in major men’s ICC tournament finals.
- Steve Smith: Set a record for the most Test runs at Lord’s for a visiting batter (591*).
Post-Match Reactions
- Temba Bavuma (SA Captain): “There were doubts about the route we took to reach the final. Hopefully, after this win, those doubts have been quashed. It has been a special couple of days.” His calm demeanor post-victory belied the emotional weight of ending a 27-year drought.
- Pat Cummins (Aus Captain): “Things can change pretty quickly, but unfortunately this was a bridge too far.” He praised Markram and Bavuma’s partnership as “fantastic.”
- Aiden Markram: “Weird how things work out, you get a duck [in the first innings]. Ultimately, you get luck, and it worked out. Lord’s is a place where every Test cricketer wants to play.”
- David Bedingham: “Very nervous, but the way Aiden and Temba went about it made us calm. The sun played a massive factor; we got luckier with the conditions.”
- Social Media Buzz: Fans on X celebrated, with posts like, “Bow to the new World Champions 🏆…South Africa’s drought of 27 years ends with a sweet victory on Australia.” Another user hailed Markram’s 136 as “one of the greatest Test innings.”
South Africa’s Path to the Final: A Statistical Overview
- WTC 2023–2025 Performance:
- Matches Played: 12
- Wins: 9
- Losses: 2
- Draws: 1
- PCT: 66.67%
- Key Players:
- Batting: Aiden Markram (1,890 runs in 27 WTC matches), Temba Bavuma (close to surpassing Dean Elgar’s 1,835 runs).
- Bowling: Kagiso Rabada (327 wickets in 70 Tests, nearing Allan Donald’s 330).
- Keshav Maharaj: Nearing 200 Test wickets, a milestone for a South African spinner.
Why This Win Matters
For South African cricket fans, this victory was more than a trophy—it was a moment of national pride. The Proteas had long been labeled as “chokers” in ICC events, but their composed chase of 282, led by Markram’s 136 and Bavuma’s gritty 66, shattered that narrative. The win at Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” added to its significance, with the team lifting the Test Mace in front of a jubilant crowd, including legends like Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock.
Looking Ahead
South Africa’s triumph sets the stage for an exciting future in Test cricket. With a strong core of players like Markram, Bavuma, Rabada, and Maharaj, and emerging talents like Tony de Zorzi and Marco Jansen, the Proteas are poised to build on this success. For Australia, the loss highlights the need to address their top-order batting concerns, as noted by Cummins, despite their bowlers’ valiant efforts.
Conclusion
The 2025 ICC World Test Championship final will be remembered as one of South Africa’s finest cricketing moments. Aiden Markram’s majestic 136, Kagiso Rabada’s fiery bowling, and Temba Bavuma’s courageous leadership delivered a historic victory that ended a 27-year wait for an ICC title. For cricket lovers, this match was a celebration of Test cricket’s enduring drama and beauty. As South Africa danced with the Test Mace, the cricketing world joined in applauding a triumph that will echo for generations.
Sources:
- ESPNcricinfo:
- ICC Official Website:
- Cricbuzz:
- Hindustan Times:
- Posts on X:
