Match Summary
- Event: ICC World Test Championship Final 2025
- Teams: South Africa vs Australia
- Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
- Dates: June 11–14, 2025
- Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets
- Trophy: First-ever ICC World Test Championship title for South Africa
Temba Bavuma of South Africa lifts the ICC World Test Championship Mace in celebration with his team•ICC/Getty Images
Full Scorecard Summary
| Innings | Runs Scored |
|---|---|
| Australia – 1st | 212 all out |
| South Africa – 1st | 138 all out |
| Australia – 2nd | 207 all out |
| South Africa – 2nd | 282/5 (target 282) |
South Africa chased down 282 runs on a tough fourth-day pitch at Lord’s, registering one of the most memorable victories in modern Test history.
How the Match Unfolded
Day 1: Bowlers Dominate Early
Australia, the defending champions, were rocked early by South African seamers but managed to scrap their way to 212, thanks to Steve Smith’s composed 61. South Africa responded poorly with the bat, collapsing to 138 in reply.
- Top performer: Steve Smith (61), Kagiso Rabada (4/49)
Day 2–3: South Africa Fight Back
Australia, with a 74-run first-innings lead, had the upper hand but failed to capitalize. They were bowled out for 207, with Rabada and Nortje combining to put relentless pressure on the batting unit.
South Africa were left needing 282 to win, a daunting task on a wearing Lord’s surface.
- Top performer: Marco Jansen (3/45), Pat Cummins (3/44)
Day 4: Markram’s Masterpiece Delivers Glory
South Africa lost early wickets, slipping to 30/4, but what followed was one of the greatest rescue acts in WTC history. Aiden Markram stood tall with a counter-attacking century (136 off 215), showcasing class, temperament, and timing.
He stitched a match-winning 147-run stand with skipper Temba Bavuma (66). After Markram’s dismissal, Verreynne and Bedingham guided South Africa home.
- Winning moment: Kyle Verreynne’s signature cover drive for four
Key Performers
Player of the Match: Aiden Markram
- Runs: 136 (2nd innings)
- Description: Held the innings together under extreme pressure, taking on the bowlers without fear. It was one of the finest centuries ever played in a Test final.
Kagiso Rabada
- Match Figures: 8 wickets
- Description: Led the bowling attack, rattling the Australian top and middle order with pace and aggression.
Temba Bavuma
- Runs: 66 (2nd innings)
- Role: Calm, calculated innings as captain. His unbeaten record as Test skipper continues.
Tactical Masterstrokes
- South Africa’s field placements in the second innings strangled Australia’s lower order.
- Markram’s decision to counterattack after the collapse turned the tide of the match.
- Rabada’s short-pitched bowling strategy dismissed Labuschagne and Green at key moments.
Historical Context & Significance
- This is South Africa’s first ICC title since 1998, ending a 27-year wait.
- The 282-run chase is the second-highest successful fourth innings total at Lord’s.
- The victory cements South Africa’s return to the elite league of Test nations and silences critics who long branded them ICC underachievers.
Courtesy: With the help of google / cricinfo and edited by Sourabh Sanyal