Aiden Markram’s majestic hundred powered South Africa to their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title, beating Australia by five wickets in the final at the iconic Lord’s on Saturday. The Proteas thus became the third new team to win the WTC after New Zealand and Australia in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
This is also South Africa second major ICC title after winning ICC KnockOut Trophy (now Champions Trophy) in 1998. South Africa‘s WTC triumph comes after the Proteas finished runners-up to India last year in the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.
Chasing 282 runs to win in the fourth innings. Markram and captain Temba Bavuma set the platform after losing Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Muldera cheaply. But it was the 147-run stand between Bavuma and Markram for the third wicket that took the game away from the Pat Cummins-led Australian team.
Although Bavuma, after battling hamstring pain, was dismissed for 66 on Saturday morning, it was Markram who took the game along only to be dismissed with just six runs required. Markram finished with 136 runs from 207 balls, including 14 fours.
Kyle Verreynne hit the winning runs off Mitchell Starc to let the entire stadium, filled with South African fans, in jubilation. Notably, Markram was dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
Glad things worked out: Aidem Markram
Reacting on his match-winning hundred, Markram felt ‘weird’ and also needed a bit of ‘luck’. “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,” said the South African opener.
“Lord’s is the place every Test cricketer wants to play. To play a final here is incredibly special. Plenty of South Africa fans who’ve made through, plenty at home too, it’s one of the most special days,” said Markram, who was named as Player of the Match.
