In a thrilling finish at Lord’s, South Africa secured their first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) title by defeating Australia by five wickets in a dramatic chase on Saturday. The Proteas successfully hunted down a challenging 282-run target, overcoming nerves and past demons to claim a landmark victory in their maiden WTC final appearance.
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Tense Final Day Drama
Resuming at 213-2 on Day 4, South Africa inched closer to glory but not without late jitters. Needing 69 more runs, they took 27.4 overs to seal the win in a cautious yet determined effort.
Opener Aiden Markram, the hero of the chase, added 34 runs to his overnight century before falling for 136 with just six runs required. His dismissal brought brief tension, but Kyle Verreynne (4*) and David Bedingham (21*) held their nerve, with Verreynne hitting the winning run just before lunch.
“It was the most nervous I’ve ever been. I didn’t want to come out and bat, but when Aiden went out, I had to,” admitted Verreynne after the match.
Australia’s Fightback Falls Short
Australia, defending champions, struck early on Day 4 when Pat Cummins removed South African captain Temba Bavuma (66). Mitchell Starc then clean-bowled Tristan Stubbs (8), leaving the Proteas at 241-4—still 41 runs away. But Markram and Bedingham’s steady 35-run stand ensured there was no late collapse.
Proteas’ Remarkable Turnaround
South Africa’s victory was built on a bold decision at the toss—opting to bowl first—which paid off as Kagiso Rabada (5-51) dismantled Australia for 212. Despite a modest first-innings reply (138), the Proteas fought back after Australia’s tail wagged in the second innings (207).
The pitch, which saw 24 wickets fall in two days, eased later, allowing South Africa to bat patiently and complete the joint second-highest successful fourth-innings chase at Lord’s.
Ending the Trophy Drought
Having endured heartbreaks in past ICC events, South Africa finally shed their “chokers” tag with a historic triumph in the longest format. For Australia, it was a rare defeat in a global final, ending their hopes of holding both the WTC and ODI World Cup simultaneously.
This victory marks a new era for South African cricket—proving their resilience and skill on the biggest stage.
