Introduction: South Africa Wins World Test Championship After 27 Years of Waiting
South Africa has finally broken its 27-year-long drought for a major ICC title by winning the ICC World Test Championship. The historic final took place on June 14, 2025, against cricket powerhouse Australia. With this remarkable five-wicket victory, South Africa has brought home its first ICC trophy since 1997—sending a wave of pride across the cricketing world.
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Score Summary: South Africa vs Australia
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the match played out in the ICC World Test Championship final:
| Innings | Australia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Innings | 258 all out | 208 all out |
| 2nd Innings | 231 all out | 282/5 (chased) |
| Result | – | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
Match Highlights
The final between South Africa and Australia was filled with drama, grit, and unforgettable moments. Here are some of the major highlights from the match:
South Africa’s Top Performers
- Victory After 27 Years: South Africa secured their first major ICC win since 1997 by defeating Australia in a thrilling chase on Day 4 of the final.
- Aiden Markram’s Heroics: Named Player of the Match, Markram anchored the chase with an unbeaten 136-run knock under pressure.
- Temba Bavuma’s Grit: Despite battling an injury, the South African captain showed true leadership, contributing a crucial 66 runs in the second innings.
- Kagiso Rabada’s Bowling Masterclass: Rabada was instrumental with the ball, picking up 9 wickets across both innings and keeping Australia under constant pressure.
Australia’s Key Moments
- Strong Start, Unfortunate Finish: Australia gained an early edge with a 74-run lead in the first innings but couldn’t carry the momentum forward.
- Bowling Effort: Pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc gave it their all, but South Africa’s composure during the chase proved too strong.
- Batting Contributions: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green played key roles in getting Australia to a competitive total.
- Falling Short: Despite several standout performances, Australia couldn’t stop South Africa from pulling off a memorable win.
South Africa’s Journey in the WTC
South Africa’s road to the top of the World Test Championship was far from easy. Here’s a look at their incredible journey:
- Historic Milestone: This is South Africa’s first-ever WTC final win and their first ICC trophy since 1997.
- Years of Heartbreak: Over the past 27 years, the Proteas endured countless near-misses in ICC tournaments—like the heartbreaking 1999 World Cup semi-final tie against Australia.
- 2024 T20 World Cup: Just last year, South Africa lost another nail-biter in the T20 World Cup final to India, falling short by just 7 runs.
- Knockout Struggles: The team has often reached the knockouts in ICC events but had become known for not finishing the job—until now.
- Resilience Pays Off: This victory is a testament to their perseverance, team spirit, and hard-earned transformation over the years.
What’s Next for South Africa?
With the WTC title in hand, South Africa’s cricket calendar continues to stay busy in 2025.
- Upcoming Test Series: The team will head to Pakistan in October–November 2025 for a two-match Test series.
- Limited-Overs Action: Before that, South Africa will play two limited-overs matches in England on September 12 and September 14.
- Tour of Pakistan: Their tour in Pakistan will also include other matches as part of their international schedule.
Final Thoughts
South Africa’s stunning WTC final win marks not just a sporting triumph but also an emotional moment for millions of fans who’ve waited nearly three decades for ICC glory. Led by brave performances from Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, and Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have finally rewritten their narrative—from underachievers to champions.
The cricket world now watches eagerly to see how this revitalized South African side will build on their success and continue their winning momentum into the future.
