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India.com
21 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
One Of The Most Special Days: Aiden Markram Reacts After Taking South Africa To WTC Glory
After South Africa ended 27 years of knockouts hoodoo in senior tournaments with a five-wicket win over Australia at Lord's to win the 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC), opener Aiden Markram said winning the mace through his match-winning knock has made for one of the most special days. Markram's majestic 136 in the second innings after bagging a duck in the first innings, led the way for South Africa to chase down 282 on day four's play and lift the ICC WTC mace for the first time and end a trophy drought stretching back to the 1998 Champions Trophy (previously known as the Knockout Trophy). "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. Reception will stick out. Lord's is the place every Test cricketer wants to play. To play a final here is incredibly special. Plenty of SA fans who've made through, plenty at home too, it's one of the most special days," said Markram in the post-match presentation ceremony. He further talked about his batting approach in the chase. 'It's always one side of the sword - to absorb, but when you look at the wicket and quality of the bowling, you have x amount of balls to face and have to try and maximise scoring off those balls. Lyon's one of the best, have had plenty of banter, if this went to day five and it kept spinning, he'd have been a handful.' Markram, who was named Player of the Match, also shared a 147-run stand with skipper Temba Bavuma, who made 66 despite a left hamstring strain. "To be honest, a lot of it came from him (in continuing to bat). He's led us from the front for the last two-three years. He didn't want to walk off the field yesterday, found a way to score really important runs, played an innings lot of people will remember," he added. Head coach Shukri Conrad said he was ecstatic for the guys and dedicated the championship win to everyone associated with South Africa. "To be able to deliver this is truly special. We got the best of the batting conditions. 280 was always going to be a stiff task." "But the two pros Aiden and Temba stood tall and took us through. I was the one who said Temba shouldn't bat (after the hamstring injury), but the partnership was critical, and they know better than the coaches.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Turn Hope Into History...": Sachin Tendulkar's Unmissable Reaction As South Africa Secure WTC Glory
Legendary cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Ab de Villiers heaped high praises on Aiden Markram and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma for leading the side to their first-ever World Test Championship (WTC) title win at Lord's on Saturday. South Africa defeated reigning champions Australia by five wickets to end their 27-year ICC title drought. Proteas' last ICC title was the 1998 Champions Trophy (then Knockout Trophy) win. Chasing a target of 282, Markram played a pivotal innings of 136, laced with 14 boundaries, to lead South Africa to victory in the title clash. His remarkable effort with the bat, especially after a first-innings duck, earned him the Player of the Match award. Markram and Bavuma also stitched a 147-run stand during the second innings to keep Australia at bay in the championship battle. Bavuma contributed 66, battling with a hamstring injury, to become the first South African captain to win the ICC title in this century. Taking to X, Tendulkar wrote, "Test cricket continues to weave its magic. In a final where every session had its own story, @ProteasMenCSA found calm in the storm. Markram's composure and Bavuma's grit under pressure stood tall in the fourth innings. A century that will be remembered, a partnership that turned hope into history. Congratulations to South Africa on becoming World Test Champions!" Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter De Villiers lauded the courage and determination of his side to come out victorious in the WTC final. "Congratulations @ProteasMenCSA. Fantastic win and so well played! Hats off to Markram for that match-winning century, and Temba for leading with such ice and fire all through," de Villiers wrote on X. "What an incredible experience of watching this beautiful format of the game! The built-up drama, the slow anticipation, and the sweet victory to end it all were moments to savour... and to experience that with my two boys, thrilled and on their toes — couldn't have imagined it better than this. Go Proteas!" South Africa resumed Day Four at 213/2, needing 69 more runs. They lost captain Bavuma early, as he edged Pat Cummins after adding just one run to his overnight score of 65. Tristan Stubbs followed soon after, bowled by a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Starc. Markram, who had anchored the chase, fell with just six runs needed, caught at mid-wicket off Josh Hazlewood. Despite the late breakthroughs, David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne stayed composed under pressure. With Australia out of reviews, the final pair saw their team home. Verreynne sealed the win in the 84th over with a drive off Starc, igniting celebrations and securing a historic Test triumph for South Africa at Lord's. --IANS ab/bsk/
