South Africa won the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2025, defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. This victory broke their 27-year ICC title drought and was their first major ICC silverware since 1998. The Proteas dominated the World Cup points table, finishing first with eight wins in 12 matches, while Australia won 13 of 19 games in the 2023-25 cycle.
Talking Points
1. Rabada’s fiery spell on Day 1
The Temba Bavuma-led side won the toss and opted to bowl in overcast conditions and it paid instant dividends as Kagiso Rabada delivered a sensational spell, claiming five wickets in 15.4 overs for 51 runs. His performance made him surpass Allan Donald as South African cricketer’s wicket tally. Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) were the top scorers for Australia in their first innings total of 212.
2. Cummins’ masterclass restricts South Africa
South Africa struggled in their first innings, losing four wickets on Day 1. On Day 2, Australian skipper Pat Cummins produced a dominant bowling display, taking six wickets to bowl out South Africa for 138, securing a 74-run lead. Cummins also reached a milestone, claiming his 300th Test wicket.
3. Proteas pacers dominate; Starc-Carey fight back
South Africa’s pace attack struck again in Australia’s second innings, dismantling their batting lineup with quick wickets at regular intervals. Rabada continued his brilliance, securing a four-wicket haul, while Lungi Ngidi contributed with three wickets. Australia managed 207 runs, with Mitchell Starc scoring an unbeaten 58 and Alex Carey adding 43.
4. Markram leads Proteas to glory
South Africa needed to chase 282 runs for their victory. The opener Aiden Markram led from the front with a magnificent century on Day 3, while Temba Bavuma provided crucial support. On Day 4, Markram’s 136-run masterclass, combined with Bavuma’s composed 66, guided the rainbow nation to a historic victory, securing their first WTC title.
Who Said What?
Aiden Markram, Player of the Match
Haven’t scored more important runs. Weird how things worked out after a duck in the first innings. Need a bit of luck, spent some time in the middle and find runs, glad things worked out. Reception will stick out. Lord’s is the place every Test cricketer wants to play. To play a final here is incredibly special. Plenty of SA fans who’ve made through, plenty at home too, it’s one of the most special days.
(Maintaining tempo in the second inns after going into the shell in the first) It’s always one side of the sword – to absorb, but when you look at the wicket and quality of the bowling, you have x amount of balls to face and have to be try and maximise scoring off those balls. Lyon’s one of the best, have had plenty of banter, if this went to day five and it kept spinning, he’d have been a handful.
(Asking Temba to stay during injury) To be honest, a lot of it came from him. He’s led us from the front for the last two-three years. He didn’t want to walk off the field yesterday, found a way to score really important runs, played an innings lot of people will remember.
Pat Cummins, Losing Captain
Things can change quickly, but it was a bridge too far. Few things we didn’t do right. Didn’t bat out the opposition after a decent first-innings lead. SA didn’t give us a chance in the fourth innings. There are concerns in the top-seven, guys have performed well in the last two years. Bowlers did well in the first two days. We gave everything a chance, Lyon bowled particularly well but didn’t get a wicket.
Aiden and Temba didn’t give us a chance. SA showed why they’re here and are deserved winners, they kept themselves in the game throughout. It’s the pinnancle, I love Test cricket. Huge achievement to make the final, one-game shootout is a spectacle, didn’t end up on the right side but it’s been a great week.
Temba Bavuma, Winning Captain
It’s been a special couple of days, at some points it felt like we were in SA. We prepared hard, we came in with a lot of belief and lot of doubters, glad we played well. Special moment for us and people back home, probably will sink in in a couple of days.
The energy was there, I think us as a team have been wanting this. We’ve been relentless, getting to the doorstep consistently and experienced heartache, the sun’s been with us. Hopefully, this win is one of many. KG is a massive player, a couple of days ago I went to the Hall of Fame inductees, I think he’ll be on there in a few years.
Came into the game under controversy and did what he did. Aiden is unbelievable, people have questioned his place, but he has character. He played in true Aiden fashion, he and Rabada have carried the character. We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters on the route we took, this win squashes that. Here’s an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite. You can be rest assured we’ll celebrate as one.
India
