South Africa has won the ICC major tournament, the World Test Championship final, after 27 years., since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy, ending a long history of near-misses and semi-final exits in ICC events.
South Africa ended a 27-year drought by winning The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2025, defeating Australia by 5 wickets at Lord’s, London, from June 11-14. This marked their second major ICC title since the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy (now Champions Trophy), where they beat West Indies.
The 2025 victory, led by captain Temba Bavuma and featuring standout performances from Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, earned them the Test Mace and a $3.6 million prize. Rabada became the first South African to claim a five-wicket haul in a WTC final.
Match Summary
● Teams: South Africa vs. Australia
● Venue: Lord’s, London
● Dates: June 11–14, 2025 (with June 16 as a reserve day)
● Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets, chasing 282 runs.
Scores:
● Australia: 212 (1st innings) & 207 (2nd innings)
● South Africa: 138 (1st innings) & 282/5 (82.4 overs, 2nd innings)
Key Performances:
● Aiden Markram (South Africa): Scored a match-defining 136 in the 4th innings, becoming the first South African to score a century in a WTC Final.
● Temba Bavuma (South Africa): Contributed 65* in the 4th innings while battling injury, forming a crucial partnership with Markram.
● Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Took a five-wicket haul (6/28), the first by a South African in a WTC Final, and set a record for the best Test figures in an ICC final.
● Pat Cummins (Australia): Took his 300th Test wicket and led Australia’s bowling attack.
● Travis Head (Australia): Became the second-highest run-scorer in ICC finals.
● Steve Smith (Australia): Set a record for the most Test runs at Lord’s for a visiting batter (591*).
Match Highlights
Day 1: Australia were bowled out for 212, with Rabada’s fiery spell leading South Africa’s attack. South Africa struggled in response, ending at 138.
Day 2: Australia scored 207 in their second innings, setting a target of 282. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Rabada, fought back after Cummins’ fiery spell.
Day 3: Markram’s century (136) and Bavuma’s resilient 65* put South Africa in control at 213/2, needing 69 runs to win.
Day 4: South Africa chased down the remaining runs, finishing at 280/5 to clinch the title.
Key Records and Milestones
● South Africa’s victory marked their maiden WTC title and their first ICC trophy since 1998.
● The chase of 282 was the second-highest successful run-chase at Lord’s in Test history, behind West Indies’ 342 in 1984.
● South Africa became the third team to win the WTC, following New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).
● Prize Money: South Africa received US $3.6 million, while Australia got US$2.1 million.