South Africa won the World Test Championship final after defeating Australia.

 South Africa won the World Test Championship final after defeating Australia.

 

 

The Proteas finally ended their decades-long quest for a major international cricket trophy on Saturday when they defeated Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final at Lord's thanks to a brilliant century from Aiden Markram.

With opener batsman Markram out for 136 when his team was just six runs from victory, South Africa, who were allocated 282 to win, concluded on 282-5 before lunch on the fourth day.

South Africa has only made it to one final in their eighteen prior appearances at the T20 and one-day international World Cups.

 

South Africa's Aiden Markram hits a boundary to reach his century on day three of the ICC World Test Championship cricket final match between Australia and South Africa, at Lord's cricket ground, in London, on13 June, 2025. AFP

They succumbed to India at the T20 World Cup in Barbados last year, even though they only needed 30 runs from their final 30 balls and had six wickets remaining.

However, after Markram hit three figures on Friday, they maintained their composure on Saturday and restarted on 213-2.

Short scores

Australia scored 212 in the first innings (B Webster 72, S Smith 66; K Rabada 551, M Jansen 3-49).

138 in the first innings for South Africa (D Bedingham 45; P Cummins 6-28)

M Starc 58 no; K Rabada 4-59, L Ngidi 3-38, Australia, 2nd Innings 207

2nd Innings 282-5, South Africa (A Markram 136, T Bavuma 66; M Starc 3-66)

South Africa prevailed by five wickets as a result.