Lord’s Cricket Ground became the stage of history as South Africa triumphed in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final, breaking a 27-year drought for a major ICC men’s trophy. The Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets inside four days in a match that will go down as one of their finest red-ball victories.
🇿🇦 Bavuma Joins Legends
South Africa’s win marks their first senior men’s ICC title since 1998, when they clinched the ICC KnockOut Trophy. With this victory, they also become the third team to lift the prestigious WTC Mace, joining New Zealand and Australia.
Temba Bavuma, the South African skipper, etched his name into the history books by becoming only the second captain from the nation to lead a side to ICC glory.
Markram’s Masterclass and Calm Chase
Chasing just 69 runs on Day 4, South Africa faced some early jitters. Bavuma (66) fell early to Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc sent Tristan Stubbs (8) packing, raising Australian hopes. But Aiden Markram, calm and composed, was the difference-maker.
Markram’s brilliant 136-run knock set the foundation, and though he fell to Josh Hazlewood with just six runs remaining, his performance earned him a standing ovation from the Lord’s crowd. It was Kyle Verreynne who eventually sealed the deal with the winning shot.
Key Match Highlights:
- Aiden Markram – 136 (Player of the Match)
- South Africa chased 69 runs on Day 4
- Temba Bavuma – 66, led with grit
- South Africa’s first ICC title in 27 years
- Third team to win the WTC after NZ and Australia
This victory is more than just a trophy—it’s redemption. It’s a statement from a team often branded as underachievers on the big stage. South Africa has finally erased the ghost of past failures and has announced themselves as a force in Test cricket once again.
From heartbreak to history—the Proteas have arrived.
