South Africa etched their name into cricketing folklore with a monumental five-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord’s. Powered by Aiden Markram’s masterful 136 and Temba Bavuma’s resilient 66, the Proteas chased down 282 on Day 4 to secure their first-ever WTC title and end a 27-year wait for a major ICC trophy, their last coming in the 1998 KnockOut tournament.

The final, which began on June 11, lived up to its billing as a high-stakes contest. Australia, the reigning champions and firm favourites, entered the match after a dominant Test cycle. However, the pendulum swung frequently across four intense days at the iconic venue.

Opting to bat first, Australia were bundled out for 212, with Kagiso Rabada leading the assault. His fiery spell of 5/51 dismantled the top order, making him the first South African bowler to register a five-wicket haul in a WTC final. Steve Smith (66) and Alex Carey (72) offered resistance, but the rest of the batting faltered.