South Africa Win Historic WTC Final at Lord’s
What a thrilling three-and-a-bit days of elite Test cricket at Lord’s for the ICC World Test Championship Final. More reaction will follow soon, but here’s the top line from a history-making day in South African cricket. At 12:45pm on a sunlit Saturday, South Africa sealed their greatest Test moment with WTC glory at Lord’s. Aiden Markram anchored the innings with a sublime 136—arguably South Africa’s greatest knock in Test match history. Kyle Verreynne struck the winning runs through the covers, igniting unforgettable celebrations at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
No longer does the 1998 ICC Knockout remain South Africa’s only major international cricket triumph. This Test championship win rewrites their cricket legacy, ending decades of heartbreak in global ICC tournaments. After countless semi-final exits, South Africa finally has a crowning moment in a WTC Final that gripped the cricket world. This underdog victory will be remembered forever and celebrated worldwide across the cricketing fraternity. It’s also a massive win for Test cricket beyond the Big Three—India, Australia, and England.
Australia, dominant for decades, was left shell-shocked by a second-innings collapse from a strong position in the WTC Final. They led by 74 runs after the first innings but collapsed to 73 for 7 by the second evening. Despite lower-order resistance and a committed bowling display, the Aussies couldn’t stop South Africa’s determined march to victory. For once, Australia finished second-best in a high-stakes ICC final on the biggest stage in world Test cricket. This bruising loss will sting for a team known for its mental toughness and big-match pedigree.
Sydney, 1992. Edgbaston 1999. Durban. St. Lucia. Auckland. Bridgetown 2024—a history of heartbreak for South African cricket. At Lord’s, under clear skies, that painful legacy was rewritten. South Africa clinched their first-ever ICC World Test Championship title. Mitchell Starc delayed the celebration with a tense over. Kyle Verreynne faced a tight field. Nerves were everywhere. The first two deliveries brought no breakthrough. On the fourth, Verreynne drove cleanly through the covers. Game over. History made. Verreynne and Bedingham embraced mid-pitch. Australia offered respectful handshakes—gracious in defeat after a hard-fought, emotional WTC Final at Lord’s. South Africa is finally champions. Their long wait is over. Belief replaces heartbreak. This is the dawn of a new era.
It happens in slow motion—Markram flicks off his pads, straight to Travis Head at midwicket in the WTC Final. Australia’s reaction is subdued, almost indifferent. But then Markram touches his helmet—the realization dawns across Lord’s. He’s dismissed after a majestic knock. Lord’s crowd stands in appreciation for Aiden Markram, the hero of this Test chase. He shattered Australia’s bowling attack with a composed 136. Markram didn’t finish the chase, but he finished their resistance. This wasn’t just a dismissal—it was symbolic. He left his mark on the biggest stage in Test cricket. Veteran writer Stuart Hess says it best—this was greatness under pressure, against one of the game’s best teams.
