World Test Championship 2025 Final: South Africa Clinch Historic Title with Five-Wicket Win Over Australia
South Africa have ended a 27-year wait for a major ICC trophy by defeating Australia in the final of the 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord’s, London, on June 14. The Proteas chased down a challenging target of 282 runs on the fourth morning, sealing a five-wicket victory and lifting their first-ever WTC mace in a match that gripped cricket fans worldwide.
Aiden Markram was named Player of the Match after scoring a crucial 136, anchoring South Africa’s chase in a contest where bowlers dominated for much of the game. Captain Temba Bavuma, battling through injury, contributed a gritty 66 in the second innings, helping steady the side during tense moments. The winning runs were struck by Kyle Verreynne, sparking jubilant celebrations among the South African players and fans.
Kagiso Rabada starred with the ball, claiming nine wickets across both innings to keep the Australians in check. Australia, the defending champions and top-ranked Test side, had set up a competitive total with scores of 212 and 207 in their two innings, but were ultimately unable to defend their lead as South Africa reached 213/2 in their final innings.
This triumph marks South Africa’s second ICC trophy, their first since the 1998 ICC KnockOut. As champions, the Proteas received a prize of US$3.6 million, while runners-up Australia took home US$2.1 million.
The WTC 2023–25 cycle saw fierce competition, with South Africa and Australia finishing as the top two teams in the points table. India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka also featured prominently during the league stage, but fell short of the final.
The global cricket community has been abuzz with excitement throughout the championship, with the hashtag #WTC25 trending as fans celebrated standout performances and debated the tournament’s turning points.
South Africa’s victory at Lord’s not only ends a long title drought but also cements their place in cricket history as World Test Champions.