Chokers no more. The South Africans consigned the word to history when they ripped the World Test Championship mace from Australia’s callused grip inside four days of a riveting final at Lord’s in England.
South Africa wore a new label Saturday โ champion โ by claiming its first major cricket trophy in 27 years when it wrapped up a five-wicket win.
The last 69 runs required on day four were confidently knocked off by the Proteas in just over two hours, only three boundaries, with Australia typically fighting all the way to the inevitable end.
South Africa moved from a portentous 213-2 overnight to a winning 285-5, the second highest successful run chase in the 141-year test history at the home of cricket.
Victory laid to rest ghosts of heartbreaking losses on big ICC stages that have haunted South Africa for decades. The venues and dates are infamous in South Africa cricket, among them Birmingham 1999, Dhaka 2011, Auckland 2015, Kolkata 2023 and Bridgetown 2024.
But London 2025 will go down as one of the greatest days in South Africa sports, when its cricket underdogs grabbed the advantage and didn’t let go against a red-hot Australia.
The stunning result also bodes well for South Africa’s preparations for its home ODI World Cup in 2027. It’s a different format, but the Proteas’ mindsets won’t be burdened by not having won a global trophy since the Champions Trophyโs precursor in 1998.
Australia didn’t give up the WTC mace easily, relentlessly attacking the stumps and trying to prey on any South Africa butterflies. The desperate Australians used up their three reviews in vain within the first 90 minutes and fought to the end. But the serial champions lost an ICC final for only a fourth time in 14 chances.
โThey were fantastic in that fourth innings,โ Australia captain Pat Cummins said. โThere wasn’t a lot in the wicket but they didn’t give us a chance.โ
South Africa’s target was set at 282, considered too far. But in a batting unit far less experienced than Australiaโs and considered a weak point, Markram and Bavuma chanced on ideal batting conditions on day three Friday and exploited them mercilessly. The turning point was Bavuma dropped in the slips on 2 by Smith, who broke his finger and didnโt return to the match.
South Africa was criticized by some before the final for its supposedly easier road in the 2023-25 WTC cycle โ it didnโt face Australia or England in a series โ but it has won eight straight tests, its second longest streak in history.
“We’ve come a long way as a team, as a country,โ emotional spinner Keshav Maharaj said. โWe always say we want to be good people and play good. We’re moving in the right direction as a cricketing nation.
“After 25 years of pain, to finally get over the line is super emotional. Weโre so grateful to have Temba to get us over the line. Diversity is our strength, so to see the crowd, they stand for the meaning of our rainbow nation. To lift the trophy is going to unite the nation even more.โ
