South Africa wins WTC final, ends 27-year ICC trophy drought

South Africa made history on Saturday, June 14, by winning the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s, claiming their first major international title in 27 years.

The Proteas chased down a challenging target of 282 runs, led by a remarkable unbeaten 137 from Aiden Markram, in what is now the highest successful chase in a WTC final.

Captain Temba Bavuma, despite battling a hamstring injury, played a crucial supporting role with a gritty 66, steadying the innings at a time when Australia threatened to swing the match their way.

The chase, carried out under pressure in front of a packed Lord’s crowd, marked a turning point for South African cricket, which had long endured heartbreak in ICC knockouts and finals since their 1998 Champions Trophy win.

Australia had set the target after being bowled out for 275 in their second innings. The match, played over five days in traditional Test format, saw momentum shift multiple times, but South Africa’s resilience with the bat on the final day proved decisive.

The victory not only crowned them Test champions but also silenced years of criticism about the team’s performance on big stages.

This win makes South Africa only the third team to lift the WTC trophy, following New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023.

It is a moment of redemption and pride for South African cricket, and the celebrations that followed at Lord’s reflected both relief and joy among players and fans alike.