LORD’S, LONDON – June 14, 2025:
Aiden Markram’s match-winning 136 and a calm finish by Kyle Verreynne scripted a moment of history as South Africa finally lifted their first ICC trophy since 1998, defeating Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship Final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
The trophy, the gleaming ICC Test mace, was removed from public view in the early morning — a symbolic moment before the day’s play began. But for a team that had endured decades of heartbreak, that mace was never out of mind.
South Africa began the day needing 69 more runs with six wickets in hand. Temba Bavuma, who had bravely batted through a hamstring injury on Day 3, was dismissed early for 66. His partnership with Markram — worth 147 runs and the only century stand in the match — had laid the foundation of belief.
As Bavuma departed to a standing ovation, the pressure turned to Markram, who carried the weight of a nation still chasing its first taste of ICC glory in 27 years.
🛡️ Markram: The Immovable Force
Unfazed, Markram batted with unshakeable calm. His innings was not only about runs but resolve. Boundaries were rare, but each one deliberate. Even when the second new ball was taken, he dispatched Hazlewood for four — pushing South Africa closer to the inevitable.
Markram fell just before the end, caught at midwicket by Travis Head after a gritty 136. But Lord’s rose as one, Australians included, to salute one of the finest innings ever played in a fourth-innings chase on this hallowed turf — only the fourth such century in a winning cause at Lord’s.
⚔️ Australia Fight, But Falter
Australia didn’t surrender quietly. Mitchell Starc bowled with venom, removing Tristan Stubbs and nearly dismissing Verreynne in the tense final overs. They burned all three of their reviews in desperation — appeals born more of hope than confidence.
But the day — and the moment — belonged to South Africa.
With just one run required, Starc delivered a full toss. Verreynne drove it through the covers and ran into history. A single run, a single moment, and 27 years of longing were wiped away.
📜 Match Summary:
Australia:
212 & 206
South Africa:
138 & 282/5 (Markram 136, Bavuma 66)
Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets
✍️ A Victory Beyond Numbers
This wasn’t just a win. It was a declaration. From Bavuma’s courage to Markram’s steel, from Bedingham’s composure to Verreynne’s nerve — South Africa played as one, guided by head coach Shukri Conrad’s unwavering faith in a team forged through setbacks.
“This is not just about a trophy,” Conrad said post-match. “This is about redemption, belief, and finally, proof that we belong on top.”
As the players searched for the trophy that had earlier vanished from sight, one truth was undeniable: South Africa was no longer chasing history — they had made it.
