By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa has won the World Test Championship against titleholder Australia by five wickets after knocking off the last 69 runs required on the fourth morning of the final at Lord’s on Saturday.
The Proteas achieved their first major cricket title in 27 years, sparking celebrations at Lord’s.
Proteas had been facing a daunting task, needing 282 to win the final against the defending champions. But they defied the odds with Aiden Markram responding to the deficit by scoring a century, his eighth in test match cricket and his most important.
Australia did not give up without a fight, claiming the scalps of captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs before Markram was caught at mid-wicket with just six runs required having taken his side within touching distance.
It was left to David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne to complete the job and spark joyous scenes from the sizable South African contingent inside the Home of Cricket, Verreynne hitting the winning runs to seal a memorable triumph.
“Always great play against some of the best in the world,” Markram said. “One of the most special days.
“Lord’s is the place every test cricketer wants to play.”
He also paid tribute to Bavuma. “A lot of it came from him. He’s always led from the front, he’s been incredible for us,” he said. “He was never going to give up and found a way to score runs, really important runs.”
Bavuma reflected: “We’ve worked hard for this moment. We came here with a lot of belief. Also with a lot of doubters.”
South Africa was criticized before the final for its supposedly easier road – it didn’t face Australia or England in a series in the 2023-25 WTC cycle – but it has won eight straight tests, its second longest streak in history, and half of them away from home
“A special moment for us as a team and a special for everybody back home,” Bavuma said. “We’ve gone through the heartache, we’ve gone through the disappointment.
“Hopefully this is one of many.
“We were happy that we able to perform like that,” he added. “Rejoice in this moment and just be one. I’m sure the people back home will be celebrating with us.”
South Africa’s run chase was the joint second-highest in Test cricket at the ground – bettered only by West Indies’ pursuit of 342 in 1984.
They are the third team to be crowned World Test champions after New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).
Scores
Australia 212 all out in 56.4 overs (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49) and 207 all out in 65 overs (Mitchell Starc 58 not out, Alex Carey 43; Kagiso Rabada 4/59, Lungi Ngidi 3/38)
South Africa 138 all out in 57.1 overs (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6/28, Mitchell Starc 2/41) and 282/5 in 83.4 overs (Aiden Markram 136, Temba Bavuma 66; Mitchell Starc 3/66, Josh Hazlewood 1/58).