South Africa Ends 27-Year ICC Title Drought as Temba Bavuma Leads Team to Historic Test Mace Victory

South Africa etched their name in the history books with a stunning five-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, on Saturday, June 14. Under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, the Proteas successfully chased down a challenging target of 282 runs, dominating the Australian bowlers in a dramatic four-day encounter.

The final was a roller-coaster affair, with momentum swinging back and forth throughout the match. The first two days were dominated by the bowlers, while the batters took control on days three and four.

After choosing to field first, South Africa made a strong start by dismissing Australia for just 212 runs, thanks to a brilliant five-wicket haul by Kagiso Rabada. However, Australia responded swiftly, bowling out the Proteas for a mere 138 and gaining a 74-run lead.

In their second innings, Australia managed 207 runs, setting South Africa a stiff target of 282. Chasing under pressure, opener Aiden Markram—who had been dismissed for a duck in the first innings—redeemed himself with a spectacular century, scoring 136 runs to anchor the chase.

With the game hanging in the balance, David Bedingham (21*) and Kyle Verreynne (4*) held their nerve to guide South Africa home, sealing a memorable win and their first-ever WTC title in emphatic fashion.

Temba Bavuma-led South Africa lift ICC test mace at Lord’s

South Africa have finally ended their 27-year-long wait for an ICC title by clinching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25. Their last ICC triumph came back in 1998, when they won the ICC KnockOut Trophy (now known as the ICC Champions Trophy), defeating the West Indies in the final. Since then, they had come close on several occasions but fell short of securing another major title.

Most recently, South Africa were runners-up in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, narrowly losing the final to India. That heartbreak added to their long-standing reputation as perennial contenders who often falter at the final hurdle.

However, the Proteas have now silenced the critics and rewritten history by lifting the prestigious ICC Test mace. ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented the mace to the jubilant South African team during the post-match ceremony at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, marking a momentous occasion in the country’s cricketing history.

Meanwhile, Markram was named Player of the Match for his match-winning century in the final. Kagiso Rabada also played a pivotal role with the ball, finishing with a total of nine wickets in the match.

Temba Bavuma contributed a vital 66 runs in the final innings, providing strong support to Markram. The pair forged a crucial 147-run partnership for the third wicket during the chase, which laid the foundation for their team’s triumphant victory.

Cover Credits - ICC Official