London, June 15 (V7N) — History at Lord’s! The moment finally arrived for South Africa as Mitchell Starc ran in and bowled a delivery outside off-stump to Kyle Verreynne. As soon as the ball rolled past the fielders to the boundary rope, the Proteas who had been waiting nervously outside the rope stormed onto the field. Celebrations erupted. Markram’s men embraced each other, tears mixed with smiles — South Africa are world champions in Test cricket for the first time.

A 27-year-long wait, countless heartbreaks, and the haunting 'chokers' tag — all erased in one unforgettable morning at Lord’s.

The Proteas defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday (June 14), finally clinching their first ICC title since 1998.

South Africa’s painful history in global tournaments has been well documented — 14 consecutive knockout match defeats across formats. But Markram’s resilient side rewrote the script, this time standing tall on the grandest stage of Test cricket.

How the Final Morning Unfolded

Starting the fourth day needing just 69 runs to win, South Africa faced early trouble when captain Temba Bavuma, battling a hamstring injury, was dismissed for 66 runs off 134 balls (5 fours).

Markram, South Africa’s centurion hero, looked to steady the ship with Tristan Stubbs, but Mitchell Starc removed Stubbs for just 8, breaking a brief 24-run stand.

Markram, who had carried the hopes of a nation, fought brilliantly but fell agonizingly short of seeing his side home, dismissed for 136 runs off 213 balls, caught by Travis Head at short midwicket off Josh Hazlewood.

But there were no more slip-ups. David Bedingham (21)* and Kyle Verreynne (4)* ensured South Africa crossed the finish line, sparking jubilant scenes at the iconic venue.

Bowling Summary - Australia (2nd Innings)

  • Mitchell Starc – 3 wickets

  • Pat Cummins – 1 wicket

  • Josh Hazlewood – 1 wicket

Despite the fight from Australia’s bowlers, the Proteas were determined not to let another opportunity slip.

Records Broken, Ghosts Laid to Rest

This triumph is especially significant for South Africa, as it:

  • Erases the ‘chokers’ tag that haunted them since the 1999 World Cup.

  • Marks their first ICC trophy in any format since winning the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy.

  • Provides closure for generations of South African cricket fans who endured heartbreak after heartbreak.

And at the center of this monumental achievement was Aiden Markram, whose superb century — the first ever by a South African in the final of an ICC event — set the foundation for this historic victory.

South Africa now stands tall, not just as contenders — but as champions of Test cricket.

END/MSS/AJ