Sun. Jun 15th, 2025

South Africa Makes History! First ICC Title in 27 Years After Thrilling WTC Final Win Over Australia

In an exciting ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, South Africa finally ended their 27-year title drought defeating Australia in exciting fashion at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. With this stunning five-wicket victory, the Proteas won their first ICC title since the 1998 Champions Trophy.

The Match That Made History

South Africa started Day 4 at 213/2, with just 69 runs left to chase down. South Africa showed their patience, mental strength and calmness under pressure. Aiden Markram’s brilliant 136 was the backbone of their fourth-innings chase. Markram played with remarkable composure and skill against a very tricky Australian bowling attack, steering his side home.

Markram’s Magnificent Ton

Aiden Markram was the main man in the moment and his fantastic century will go down as one of the great Test centuries in the history of South African cricket. His crisp drives and powerful strokes kept the scoreboard ticking and the pressure on Australia. His wicket came 6 runs short of the target, but by then the damage was done.

The Final Blow

As South Africa required a mere six runs to win, Markram was caught at mid-wicket and although that offered a glimmer of hope to Australia, David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne were equal to defending their wicket. During the 84th over, Verreynne drove Starc through the off-side for the winning runs. The South African fans, in huge numbers at the Home of Cricket, erupted in joy.

Key Performances – Australia vs South Africa WTC Final

Australia’s Innings:

First Innings: 212 all out in 56.4 overs
- Beau Webster – 72 runs
- Steve Smith – 66 runs
- Kagiso Rabada – 5/51, a stellar five-wicket haul
- Marco Jansen – 3/49
Second Innings: 207 all out in 65 overs
- Mitchell Starc – 58 not out
- Alex Carey – 43 runs
- Rabada – 4/59, totaling 9 wickets in the match
- Lungi Ngidi – 3/38

South Africa’s Innings:

First Innings: 138 all out in 57.1 overs
- David Bedingham – 45 runs
- Temba Bavuma – 36 runs
- Pat Cummins – 6/28, a masterclass in fast bowling
Second Innings: 282/5 in 83.4 overs
- Aiden Markram – 136 runs
- Temba Bavuma – 66 runs
- Mitchell Starc – 3/66
- Josh Hazlewood – 1/58

The Turning Points

Markram’s Centurion Resilience: Aiden Markram’s gritty and attacking century on the final day was the defining factor. It blunted the Australian pace attack and kept South Africa on track.
Rabada’s Fiery Spell: Kagiso Rabada’s twin bursts in both innings ensured Australia never posted a commanding total. His 9-wicket match haul was critical.
Australia’s Missed Opportunities: Australia used up their reviews early, leaving them helpless in key moments. They missed out on crucial LBW chances that could have tilted the match.

The Winning Moment

With the burden of decades and years of expectations weighing heavily on his shoulders, Verreynne driving the ball to seal victory was slightly more than just the winning runs, it was the release in what was a fundamental moment for South African cricket, a release from decades of anguish and feeling that dreadful term, choker, during the ICC tournaments.

27 Years of Waiting Ends

Having won the ICC trophy just once in 1998 during the inaugural Champions Trophy, South Africa has suffered numerous near-misses and heartbreakers in ICC tournaments including semi-final defeats, World Cup group stages, you name it. This victory will not only lift South African cricket but hopefully inspire the next generation of cricketers from across the Rainbow Nation.

Crowd and Atmosphere

The Lord’s crowd saw a match for the ages. South African supporters exceeded expectations with their involvement and enthusiasm flooding the North-West London ground, creating a wave of green and gold colours. The noise on Verreynne’s winning shot reverberated around the cricketing world, announcing South Africa’s long-awaited victory on the biggest stage.

Social Media Erupts

As soon as the match ended, cricket fans, former players, and celebrities flooded social media platforms:

#SouthAfricaWTCChampions and #Markram136 trended worldwide.
Former legends like AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith hailed it as “the greatest moment in South African cricket.”
International cricketers lauded South Africa for their discipline and determination.

What This Means for South African Cricket

This victory is undoubtedly a new chapter for South African cricket. It features young players such as Bedingham, Stubbs, and Verreynne, and leaders in Markram, Rabada, and Bavuma. The team has great bench strength.

With Cricket South Africa focusing on developing domestic players and creating a strategic vision, this is beginning to pay off. The WTC 2025 title is proof that they can compete with and beat the best, standing together with determination and discipline to achieve a common goal.

Final Thoughts

The South Africa vs Australia WTC Final 2025 was a lot more than a cricket match; it was a love-in and passionate storm of emotions about perseverance. South Africa’s ICC title success in 2025 will cement this team in history and forever be viewed as a cricketing triumph. From Aiden Markram’s century to Rabada’s demolition show, there were countless segments that were sewn together into an incredible chronicle of redemption.

As the Proteas lifted the coveted WTC trophy, they also lifted the burden of the past. And for millions of fans, this wasn’t just a victory—it was vindication. South Africa wins ICC final and proves once again: cricket is not just a sport; it’s a story of belief.