South Africa has won the ICC World Test Championship 2025 (WTC Final 2025). They defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the final match played at Lord's in London.
Sports News: A new chapter has been added to cricket history. South Africa clinched the 2025 World Test Championship trophy for the first time, defeating Australia by five wickets in the final. This victory is not just a title; it's also the culmination of a 27-year wait. Their last ICC trophy win was the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998. Opening batsman Aiden Markram was the hero of this historic final, playing a memorable unbeaten innings of 136 runs.
Match Summary
In the final match played at the historic Oval, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The Kangaroos started cautiously, but South Africa's fast bowlers prevented them from playing freely. Kagiso Rabada once again proved his experience, taking 5 wickets and restricting Australia to 212 runs. Smith top-scored with 66 runs, but wickets continued to fall at the other end.
South Africa's reply started poorly, collapsing to 138 runs. Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, bowled a devastating spell, claiming 6 wickets. This gave Australia a 74-run first-innings lead, strengthening their grip on the match. However, Australia's top order faltered in their second innings. South Africa's bowling unit made a superb comeback, restricting Australia to 207 runs. Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj were particularly destructive, taking three and two wickets respectively.
South Africa faced a challenging target of 282 runs. Their start was shaky—opener Ryan Rickelton was dismissed for only 6 runs. Wiaan Mulder provided some respite with 27 runs, but the real partnership came between Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma. They added 147 runs for the third wicket, rescuing the team from a precarious situation. Bavuma scored 66 runs with a composed innings, but when he was out, the match remained tense.
By then, Markram was well-set. He played an outstanding innings of 136 runs off 207 balls, including 14 boundaries, steering the team towards victory. When he was finally out, only 6 runs were needed to win.
The Moment of Victory and Celebrations
South Africa reached the target of 282 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. As the winning runs were scored, a wave of jubilation swept through the team and support staff. The players ran onto the field, embraced each other, and celebrated the end of a 27-year drought. This victory will be etched in golden letters in the history of South African cricket.
A team that had faltered in several ICC knockout stages reached the trophy this time with complete confidence and unity. Captain Temba Bavuma said after the match, "This is not just a victory, but a victory of the emotions of the entire nation. This trophy is dedicated to every fan who stood by us."
