At Lord’s on June 14, 2025, South Africa shattered a nearly three-decade ICC title drought by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship final by five wickets . Chasing a challenging target of 282 in the fourth innings, the Proteas reached the mark with 69 runs to spare, delivering one of Lord’s highest successful run-chases .

The triumph was powered by a monumental unbeaten 136 from Aiden Markram, earning him the player of the match award, and a gritty 65 from injured skipper Temba Bavuma-leading a 193-run stand that sealed the win . Kagiso Rabada’s earlier five-wicket haul helped restrain Australia, setting the stage for the chase .

This victory marks South Africa’s first major ICC crown since 1998, reshaping their reputation from perennial finalists to world champions . The achievement not only ends the infamous "chokers" tag, but also cements their rise as a powerhouse in Test cricket.

With key contributions from David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, coach Shukri Conrad, and strength from the playing squad, this WTC win will be remembered as a historic turning point in South African cricket.