It's Time For Africa...: Temba Bavuma Led South Africa Wins World Test Championship 2025, Markram Slams Ton

WTC 2025 final: Temba Bavuma led South Africa won the World Test Championship 2025 finals, beating Australia by 5 wickets at Lord's iconic stadium. Aiden Markram struck a match-winning hundred, and skipper Bavuma scored a half-century.

With this historic win, South Africa broke its ICC tournament drought, clinching a title after 27 years. Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, and Kagiso Rabada were instrumental in this historic win.

On Day 4, South Africa needed 69 runs to clinch victory. The previous days saw fluctuating fortunes with 14 wickets falling on both Day 1 and Day 2. However, Day 3 was less eventful with only four wickets lost. During this day, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood put together a crucial 59-run partnership for Australia, setting a target of 282 runs for South Africa.

Markram's Stellar Performance

Aiden Markram was in exceptional form, batting for seven hours to score an unbeaten century on Day 3. He ended the day at 102* off 159 balls alongside Bavuma who contributed with a solid 65* off 121 deliveries. Their partnership was pivotal in taking South Africa to a commanding position at 213/2 by stumps.

Despite some early nerves on Day 4, with Bavuma nicking behind to Pat Cummins and Tristan Stubbs being bowled by Starc, South Africa remained composed. Markram continued his fine form but fell short of seeing the chase through when he was caught by Travis Head after scoring a magnificent 136 runs.

Final Moments of Triumph

The final moments were filled with tension as South Africa edged closer to victory. With just six runs needed after Markram's dismissal, the team held their nerve to cross the finish line. The iconic Lord's balcony erupted in celebration as South Africa claimed their first major ICC trophy in over two decades.

Reflecting on the game, Wiaan Mulder expressed relief and joy at overcoming the fear of failure that had plagued them before this innings. "It took away the fear of failure going into this innings," he said. "We talked about getting whatever they get."