After years of heartbreak and near misses, South Africa have finally done it.
On a sunlit afternoon at Lord’s, the Proteas chased down 282 to beat Australia and win the World Test Championship, claiming their first major global title in over two decades.
And at the heart of it all was Aiden Markram—who went from first-innings duck to second-innings hero.
Markram Rises from Zero to Hero
In a true comeback story, Markram, who scored zero in the first innings, stood tall in the second with a match-defining 136 runs.
It was his third Test century against Australia—but this one mattered most.
South Africa started Day 5 at 213 for two, needing just 69 more.
Australia came out swinging, but Markram and his teammates kept their cool, calmly inching toward victory—even as the pressure ramped up.
A Nervy Finish with Glory on the Horizon
The chase wasn’t without drama. Captain Temba Bavuma, nursing a hamstring issue, managed to add just one run to his overnight score before falling early to Pat Cummins.
Australia, sensing a possible twist, used up all three of their reviews in just eight overs.
Tristan Stubbs was clean-bowled by Mitchell Starc. Then, with just six runs to go, Markram clipped a ball straight to midwicket—gone, but not forgotten.
He walked off to a standing ovation from the South African fans, who had shown up in numbers to cheer their team to history.
It was Kyle Verreynne who hit the winning run, slicing the ball through the off-side, sealing a win that erased years of painful memories.
Overcoming Doubt and Defying Critics
There had been plenty of talk that South Africa didn’t deserve to be in the final.
Critics pointed out they hadn’t played England or Australia in the Championship and had forfeited a series in New Zealand to focus on their domestic T20 league.
They even used a record 31 players across only 12 matches—a bare-minimum schedule that had raised eyebrows.
But on this day, none of that mattered.
They were in the final. They were up against the world’s top-ranked side.
And they won—fair and square.
Smart Tactics, Ruthless Execution
Bavuma made the bold call to put Australia in to bat, banking on his side’s bowling power and the tendency for Lord’s pitches to flatten later. That gamble paid off.
Kagiso Rabada led a sensational bowling effort under grey skies, setting the tone early.
When the time came to bat, the Proteas delivered again—first grinding through tough conditions, then sealing the win in the sunshine.
Finally, an End to the ‘Chokers’ Tag
South Africa have long been haunted by the word “chokers”—always good enough, but never able to get over the line in big tournaments.
Their last international title came back in 1998, at the Wills Knockout (later known as the Champions Trophy).
This win changes everything. It’s more than just a trophy—it’s a symbolic breaking of a mental barrier.
Lord’s Belongs to the Proteas
In one of the most iconic cricket venues on earth, South Africa pulled off the second-highest successful Test run chase at Lord’s, and did it against all odds.
Australia may have fought hard, but this was South Africa’s day, and nothing could take that away from them.