South Africa’s Historic Triumph: Aiden Markram’s Heroics Seal WTC 2025 Final After 27 Years of Wait.

Date: June 14, 2025
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

For a generation of South African cricket fans, these days will be written in gold letters forever. After 27 long agonising years of, close but no cigar, all the heartaches and, what if’s. South Africa finally lifted an ICC trophy – the ICC World Test Championship 2025 – in the most dramatic circumstances by beating Australia in the final at the world famous Lord’s Cricket Ground.

This was not a win, this was redemption. It was a full-circle moment for a cricketing nation that has seen some of the best cricketers in history but has never stood on the podium since winning the Champions Trophy in 1998. But on June 14, 2025, South Africa didn’t choke, they conquered.

Day 1: Rabada and Co. Rattle the Aussie Top Order

The final started on a grey, overcast day, which offered ideal swing bowling conditions. South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl, which caused a few raised eyebrows. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were able to take full advantage of the conditions. Australia, the defending champions, slumped to 67/4 before a dogged counterattack from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72), which allowed them to finish on a below-par total of 212.

Rabada was unplayable with the new ball, claiming 5/51. He set the tone with his dismissals of Khawaja and Green in the first hour. Marco Jansen created havoc with a scalp of his own and South Africa finished Day 1 in a great position.

Day 2: A See-Saw Battle, Powerful Bavuma Leads the Resistance

South Africa’s first innings were slow due to spin, although they were kept where they wanted to be by Australia’s pace trio Cummins, Stark and Hazlewood. At 30/4, South Africa was in trouble. However, captain Bavuma led from the front, playing a mature thing of 36 under pressure, adding David Bedingham and 45 as well. It was then that Temba Bavuma tried to steer a ball that was loose and caught by Labuschagne and from there South Africa fell like nine pins and got all out for mere 138 on the board, giving Australia a lead of 74-runs. In the nature of the innings, it showed the Proteas had not come prepared at all for the final.

Australia’s second innings started late on Day 2, and they were quickly also stumbled down by Rabada and Ngidi and in no time Australia were on 73/7, looking good was Alex Carey.

Day 3: Australia Bounces Back.

Day 3 was an emotional rollercoaster. Australia were trying to build a partnership with Alex Carey’s and Mitchell Starc’s 61 run stand. However, at 134 Alex Carey fell to Rabada, leaving them 134/8. After Carey, Mitchell Starc had to step up, this time not with the ball, but with the bat, and ended up scoring a crucially needed half century, going not out 58, and took Australia past 200. With the lead of 74 and second innings score of 207 The targets for South Africa was a steep on of 282.

Rabada took 4/59, his dismissals of Khwaja, Green, Carey and Lyon kept Australia on the back foot for most of their innings. Australia were bowled out for 207 setting South Africa a target of 282 to win the WTC Final.

On paper it looked achievable, however with the pressure of a final and the class of the Aussie pacers, it certainly wasn’t going to be easy.

Day 4: The Aiden Markram Masterclass

Here comes Aiden Markram.

South Africa’s chase started shakily, Ryan Rickelton nicking one from Starc and straight into the hands of Carey behind the stumps in the third over. Markram and Wiaan Mulder put together a nice partnership but Mulder got trapped and nicked one straight to Labuschagne, before long South Africa were 70/2. The ghosts of previous ICC knockouts began to loom.

But Markram, calm and composed, batted like a man possessed. He started slowly, but once set, he started taking the attack to the Australians. His foot movement against the spinners is just lovely, and he played the pacers late, driving on the up beautifully.

Markram stitched together vital partnerships, 147 with Bavuma. He absorbed pressure, anchored the innings and actively rotated strike. When Australia tried to bounce him out, he pulled them away with authority. When they pitched it up, he leaned in and drove beautifully.

He brought up his century in 156 balls – a knock full of grit, elegance, and purpose. As he lifted his bat, the lord’s balcony exploded, and even the neutrals, were clapping with appreciation.

The winning runs came in the 84th over, after verreynne struck a four off Starc. Markram was out to hazelwood with South Africa only 6 runs short of victory. Later Bedingham and Verreynne completed the job cosng the match by 5 wickets sending the whole South African dug out into delight.

Markram’s Redemption Tale

For Aiden Markram this wasn’t just a century, it was personal, once labelled as the future of South African cricket his career had had its ebbs and flows, but when push came to shove if you needed a knock on the biggest of stages in Test cricket he produced a knock that will be remembered as one of the great fourth innings efforts of all time.

A Moment 27 years in the Making

The last time South Africa won an ICC title was in 1998, through generations of players representing the national side which came and went most were naturally talented with high potential but they hadn’t gone across the line when it came to the crunch. Semi-finals elegantly exited in 1999 and 2007 and 2015, group stage humiliation and rain affected chokes which left everyone thinking there was a dark cloud constantly looming whenever it was crunch time.

But the win wasn’t just about getting the jinx off the back, it was about the resilience, building, and rewriting the narratives. Bavuma, Rabada, Markram, Maharaj are now part of a new golden generation that delivered when legends like Kallis, Smith, De Villiers and Pollock, and so many others couldn’t.

The Aftermath: Tears, Cheers, and Legacy

The scenes after the match were emotional. Bavuma, eyes wet, raised the WTC mace into the air as Akumeng breathed life into the Lord’s crowd with a chant of “Protea Fire!” Rabada was awarded Player of the Match for his impressive performance with eight wickets throughout both innings, but Markram’s impressive push forward scored the rhythm at the heart of a now legendary victory.

In the post-game press conference, Markram remarked, “We weren’t just playing for ourselves. We were playing for all the South African cricketers that have not achieved. This is for them. And this is for our supporters that have believed in us through this journey.”

From Cape Town to Johannesburg, the streets erupted in celebration. Schools announced holidays. Social media exploded with “#WTCChampions” and “#27YearsLater”.

Final Scorecard Summary:

In a match that had it all: tension, momentum swings, individual brilliance and emotional resonance, South Africa finally scaled the mountain they have so often slipped from. The 2025 WTC Final will not just be a cricketing occasion, it will be a significant watershed for South African sport.

And they are not nearly-men anymore. They are champions.

You can also read about our blog about the clash between South Africa and Australia before the final of WTC in lords.

Read Here