South Africa end title drought with upset of Australia
South Africa have ended decades of heartbreak in global tournaments, upsetting Australia by five wickets at Lord's to become World Test champions.
Applied with the 'chokers' tag following years of blowing sudden-death ICC matches, the Proteas upstaged the No.1-ranked Australians in a gripping WTC final at the home of cricket to lift their first senior world trophy.
Led superbly by opener Aiden Markram's 136, and a gritty captain's knock from hobbling hero Temba Bavuma (66), South Africa chased down the target of 282 just before lunch on day four.
Going to stumps on Friday night in pole position at 2-213, this largely unheralded South Africa team required just 69 runs to create history legends such as Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and AB De Villiers never could.
Bavuma, who continued to bat with a hamstring injury, was dismissed early on Saturday, but Markram was dismissed only six runs away from glory to write himself into South African cricket folklore.
The turnaround for the Proteas has been remarkable.
This defining moment comes less than 18 months after they sent a heavily depleted squad to New Zealand so their stars could stay home and play in the country's T20 league instead.
South Africa were predictably thrashed 2-0 by the Black Caps, but then went on to complete eight wins in a row to claim an unexpected Test title.
It was Australia's first loss in a world final since England beat them to claim the 2010 T20 title.
Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015, 2023), a T20 trophy (2021), and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval.
Their record in global finals goes to 8-4, dating back to the first ODI World Cup back in 1975.
Australia have been the cause of much of South Africa's pain, beating them in ODI World Cup semi-finals in 1999, 2007 and 2023.
South Africa's run chase was the second-highest successful pursuit in fourth-innings in a Test at Lord's, equal with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
In a final that exceeded the hype, South Africa boldly took it up to the Australians from the moment Bavuma decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
Beau Webster (72) and Steve Smith (66) carried Australia on the first day, rolled for 212 after Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada fired with 5-51 in his first Test since receiving a one-man ban for testing positive to cocaine.
But Australia's pace artillery struck back in typical fashion, running through the Proteas for only 138 thanks to Pat Cummins' 6-28.
During one of his greatest spells, the star quick became the eighth Australian take 300 Test wickets, joining teammates Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc.
But the first-innings lead of 74 quickly seemed like nowhere near enough when Australia suffered a collapse of 5-29 in just 45 minutes late on day two.
Starc (58 not out) and Alex Carey (43) steered them out of dire trouble, but batting became significantly easier at the start of day three to give South Africa's batters confidence they could complete the chase.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
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