South Africa ended 27 years of heartbreak by defeating Australia at Lord’s to clinch the ICC World Test Championship 2025, marking their first major ICC trophy since the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Aiden Markram was the star of the show, crafting a magnificent 136 to guide the Proteas to a five-wicket victory and secure their place in cricketing history. His commanding knock took South Africa to the brink of victory before he was dismissed with just six runs needed, caught at mid-wicket off Josh Hazlewood.

David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne completed the chase in style, with Verreynne hitting the winning runs to ignite euphoric celebrations among the large South African contingent at the Home of Cricket.

Resuming on 213 for 2 and needing just 69 more runs, South Africa’s task began under clear skies. However, Australia struck early through captain Pat Cummins, who removed Temba Bavuma for 66 in the third over of the morning.

Tristan Stubbs survived an lbw review before being bowled by a Mitchell Starc beauty for 12, leaving South Africa 241 for 4. Starc then struck Bedingham on the pads, prompting another review, but replays showed the ball pitched outside the line of off-stump. With that, Australia lost their final review.

Markram and Bedingham steadied the ship, rotating the strike and dispatching loose deliveries to inch closer to the target. A sumptuous straight drive from Bedingham off Cummins brought the required runs down to 20.

Australia took the new ball with 14 runs remaining, but Markram welcomed it with a boundary off Hazlewood. He fell shortly after, but his work was done.

Verreynne then partnered with Bedingham to see the team home, sealing the victory in the 84th over with a drive through the off-side off Starc, etching South Africa’s triumph into the annals of cricket history.

Match Summary:

Australia:

• 1st Innings: 212 all out (Beau Webster 72, Steve Smith 66; Kagiso Rabada 5/51, Marco Jansen 3/49)
• 2nd Innings: 207 all out (Mitchell Starc 58*, Alex Carey 43; Rabada 4/59, Lungi Ngidi 3/38)

South Africa:

• 1st Innings: 138 all out (David Bedingham 45, Temba Bavuma 36; Pat Cummins 6/28, Starc 2/41)
• 2nd Innings: 282/5 (Aiden Markram 136, Bavuma 66; Starc 3/66, Hazlewood 1/58)

South Africa wins by 5 wickets and are crowned ICC World Test Champions 2025.