South Africa Win First ICC Title in 27 Years, Clinch WTC 2025

South Africa Clinch ICC World Test Championship 2025, End 27-Year Trophy Drought

Proteas Seal Famous Victory Over Australia at Lord's

In a landmark moment for world cricket, South Africa defeated defending champions Australia by five wickets in a thrilling ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord's.1 The victory, sealed on Saturday, June 14, 2025, ended the nation's agonizing 27-year wait for a senior men's ICC trophy, marking their first major title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.2

Match Summary:

• Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London3
  
  
• Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets4
  
  
• Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to field first.5
  
  
• Player of the Match: Aiden Markram (South Africa)6
  
  

Scores:

• Australia: 212 & 2077
  
  
• South Africa: 138 & 282/58
  
  

🏆 The Final Chase: A Test of Nerves

Set a challenging target of 282 on a demanding Lord's pitch, South Africa's run chase was anchored by a masterful century from Aiden Markram.9 His brilliant innings of 136, combined with a courageous 66 from captain Temba Bavuma who battled a hamstring injury, formed the backbone of the victory.10 The pair put on a decisive 147-run partnership for the third wicket, turning the tide after early wobbles.

Despite a spirited fightback from the Australian bowlers, South Africa held their nerve on Day 4 to complete the second-highest successful run chase in Test history at Lord's, sparking emotional celebrations on the players' balcony and among their supporters.11

Key Performers & Turning Points:

• Aiden Markram (136): Played a career-defining innings under immense pressure to guide his team to victory.12 He was the only player to score a century in the final.
  
  
• Kagiso Rabada (9 wickets): Was the chief destroyer with the ball, claiming 5/51 in the first innings and 4/59 in the second, consistently troubling the Australian batters.
• Temba Bavuma (66): The captain's gritty half-century, played through injury, provided crucial stability and leadership during the tense run chase.13
  
  
• The Chase: South Africa's confident and composed approach in the fourth innings defied the "choker" tag that has long haunted the nation in major tournaments.

The Road to Glory: A Dominant Campaign

South Africa's path to the final was built on a foundation of consistent excellence during the 2023-25 cycle. They finished at the top of the WTC points table with a 69.44% win percentage, securing eight wins from their twelve matches.

• Final WTC 2023-25 Standings (Top 2):
  1. South Africa: 12 Matches, 8 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Draw (69.44 PCT)
  2. Australia: 19 Matches, 13 Wins, 4 Losses, 2 Draws (67.54 PCT)

✅ Why This Victory is Historic:

• Ends the Drought: It is South Africa's first ICC trophy for the senior men's team in 27 years.14
  
  
• First WTC Title: They are now the third team to win the prestigious ICC World Test Championship mace, after New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).
• Overcoming the 'Chokers' Tag: This win in a high-stakes final against the formidable Australians marks a significant psychological breakthrough for South African cricket.
• Led by Bavuma: The victory is a monumental achievement for captain Temba Bavuma, the nation's first Black African cricket captain, who drew inspiration from the success of the Springboks rugby team.15