South Africa ended a 26-year wait by winning the ICC World Test Championship, beating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s. Aiden Markram’s brilliant century and strong teamwork led to a historic victory and their first ICC title since 1998.
South Africa Beat Australia to Win World Test Championship
South Africa have finally done it! After 26 years without a major ICC trophy, they have won the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25. They beat Australia by five wickets at the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground in England. The last time the Proteas won an ICC trophy was back in 1998, when they lifted the Champions Trophy (then called the KnockOut Trophy).
Aiden Markram Scores Match-Winning Century
The star of the match was South African opener Aiden Markram. He scored a brilliant 136 runs off 207 balls, hitting 14 boundaries. His calm and steady batting helped the Proteas chase down a target of 282 runs.
On the fourth day, South Africa started at 213 for 2, needing just 69 more runs to win. Captain Temba Bavuma was out early, scoring 66 runs. Then Tristan Stubbs scored only 8 runs before getting out.
Markram then built a 35-run partnership with David Bedingham. Just 6 runs away from victory, Markram finally got out. But his job was already done. the Proteas crossed the target with ease after that
Rabada and Cummins Dominate With the Ball
the Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took 5 wickets in the match, while Marco Jansen added 3 more. They were key in bowling out Australia for just 207 runs in their second innings.
For Australia, Pat Cummins was fantastic, taking 6 wickets in South Africa’s first innings. Mitchell Starc also helped with 2 wickets and scored a fighting 58 not out with the bat.
Match Summary
Scores and Key Performers
| Team | Innings 1 | Innings 2 | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 212 | 207 | Smith (66), Starc (58*), Cummins (6 wkts) |
| South Africa | 138 | 283/5 | Markram (136), Rabada (5 wkts) |
Champions at Last
After many years of heartbreak, South Africa have finally won a big ICC title again. The players and fans will never forget this win. Aiden Markram’s amazing century and the team’s fighting spirit made this victory very special. South Africa are now the new World Test Champions!
