‘Hopefully this is one of many’: South Africa crowned Test champions after Lord’s triumph

Following 27 years of agony and torment, South Africa has vanquished its demons in ICC knockouts after toppling Australia by five wickets in the topsy-turvy World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

Proteas opener Aiden Markram defied Australia’s world-class bowling attack in the fourth innings with a match-winning 137 from 207 balls, helping South Africa chase down the 282-run target in 83.4 overs — the equal-highest successful run chase at Lord’s since 1984.

South Africa, dubbed underdogs ahead of the marquee clash, were trailing for the majority of the match before a 147-run partnership between Markram and captain Temba Bavuma turned the tables on Australia, who lost their first ICC final in 15 years.

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“It’s been a special couple of days,” Bavuma said during the post-match presentation.

“We’ve prepared hard for this, we’ve worked hard for this moment. We came here with a lot of belief, but also with a lot of doubters.

“We’re happy that we were able to play well enough to get the result. Hopefully this is one of many.”

The triumph somewhat remedies the lingering heartbreak from last year’s dramatic T20 World Cup final against India, with South Africa lifting a major trophy for the first time since the 1998 ICC Knockout. Markram, who batted for nearly seven hours and was later named player of the match, will return home a national hero, while Bavuma maintains his impeccable record as Test captain.

MATCH CENTRE: World Test Championship final, Australia vs South Africa scorecard

South Africa's wicket keeper Kyle Verreynne. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP Source: AFP

“We deserve to get into this position,” Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said after the match.

“People were saying we weren’t playing good enough opposition (during the World Test Championship cycle), but I think that’s rubbish. We came here and we played the best team.

“Australia have been magnificent all season, and we had to be on our A-game to beat them.”

Bavuma continued: “We got ourselves into the final. There were doubts as to the route that we took, supposedly playing weaker teams. We’re happy that we were able to perform like this, and hopefully that kind of squashes that.

“For us as a country, as divided as we are at times, to forget all of that, rejoice in this moment and just be one. I’m sure the people back home will be celebrating it with us, and you can trust that we’ll be celebrating it massively as well.”

Meanwhile, defending champions Australia will be left questioning the configuration of their vulnerable top order ahead of the upcoming West Indies tour and home Ashes campaign.

“It’s been a wonderful two years,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said during the post-match presentation.

“The guys have performed really well to get us here, but it didn’t come together this game.

“(South Africa) were fantastic in that fourth innings. There wasn’t a lot in the wicket, but they didn’t really give us a chance.”

South Africa, who were 2-213 overnight, required a further 69 runs when play resumed on Saturday morning, while Australia’s chances of stealing an unlikely victory rested heavily on early wickets – and Cummins delivered in the third over when Bavuma, who was still nursing a sore hamstring, feathered behind for 66.

There were signs of variable bounce from the Nursery End as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon generated plenty of turn from the footmarks, but Markram refused to budge, slowly chipping away at the target alongside young gun Tristan Stubbs. Australia quickly burned all of their reviews – two for LBW shouts and the other for a non-existent glove brush – before Starc returned to the attack and knocked over Stubbs, bowled through the gate for 8.

'What a delivery!' Starc bowls him | 00:29

With 41 runs still required, David Bedingham eased any lingering tension in the South African dressing room by thumping Cummins down the ground for a commanding boundary before Australia took the second new ball in hopes of a late miracle. However, Markram clipped the first two deliveries against the fresh Dukes through mid-on to bring the deficit down to single digits.

Unfortunately, the Proteas opener departed later in the same over after attempting a third glance against seamer Josh Hazlewood, with Travis Head holding onto a lunging catch at mid-wicket. Every Australian player congratulated Markram following his dismissal, with the South African receiving a standing ovation from the Lord’s crowd as he marched towards the iconic pavilion.

South Africa's Aiden Markram. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP Source: AFP

Adding to the drama, scores were tied when Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne gloved a ramp shot through to fellow gloveman Alex Carey — but Australia didn’t have any reviews at their disposal after umpire Richard Illingworth didn’t budge at the non-striker’s end, denying Starc a fourth wicket.

Following a string of dot balls, the winning moment came when Verreynne slapped a low full toss through point, prompting scenes of jubilation at the home of cricket.

“I’m just relieved,” Verreynne said after thet match.

“When I walked out to the middle, it was probably the most nervous I’ve been.

“But we managed to get over the line. Incredible.”

Elsewhere, Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj broke down in tears while talking to South African legend Graeme Smith after the match.

“Tears won’t even describe what we feel right now,” Maharaj sobbed.

“It’s just an honour to be able to lift the coveted title ... it’s super special for us.”

South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth Source: AP

Last year, the Proteas sent an undermanned squad to New Zealand to strengthen the nation’s domestic T20 league, an ominous indictment on the future of Test cricket in South Africa. Hopefully, this week’s triumph will prove a turning point for the game’s premier format in the rainbow nation.

“Through adversity we have stood strong as a team, and here we are today to raise a trophy that has eluded us for a number of years,” Maharaj continued.

“We are doing good things as a team and as a country, and may this just be the stepping stone of greater things to come.”

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