South Africa Win Wtc For First Major Title Since 1998

World Test Championship final, Lord's (day 4 of five)

Australia 212: Webster 72; Rabada 5-51 & 207: Starc 58* ; Rabada 4-59

South Africa 138: Bedingham 45; Cummins 6-28 & 282-5: Markram 136; Starc 3-66

South Africa won by 5 wickets

Scorecard

South Africa hit Australia by 5 wickets successful nan World Test Championship last to extremity their agelong hold for a awesome world title.

The Proteas had resumed their 2nd innings connected 213-2 and needed 69 runs to wrap up triumph connected time 4 astatine Lord's.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins struck successful nan 3rd complete of nan time to disregard other number Temba Bavuma, caught down for 66, to inject a semblance of belief.

Then pinch 41 runs required, Mitchell Starc bowled Tristan Stubbs done nan gross to origin a small much worry successful nan South Africa dressing room.

However, centurion Aiden Markram continued wherever he near disconnected from nan erstwhile time arsenic he put South Africa connected nan brink of triumph pinch a superb 136.

Markram, nan only subordinate to make a 100 successful nan match, missed retired connected nan chance to deed nan winning runs erstwhile he flicked Josh Hazlewood into nan hands of Travis Head astatine mid-wicket pinch nan winning station successful sight.

That near David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne to spot South Africa complete nan statement - Verreynne stroking a thrust done nan covers disconnected Starc for a azygous to seal it earlier raising his arms successful joyous celebration.

South Africa's tally pursuit was nan associated second-highest successful Test cricket astatine nan crushed - bettered only by West Indies' pursuit of 342 successful 1984.

They are nan 3rd squad to beryllium crowned World Test champions aft New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).

Well-oiled South African fans had filtered retired of Lord's yesterday evening buoyantly going done their repertoire of songs aft a blissful time of batting.

They shuffled done nan gates connected nan 4th time decidedly much sombre, pinch nan sobering reality location was still 69 runs to get.

Ashwell Prince, South Africa's batting coach, acknowledged getting immoderate slumber earlier Saturday's day pinch destiny mightiness beryllium difficult for their players.

So, almost inevitably, location were immoderate sweaty palms and a fewer jitters. At slightest until nan runs required trickled down to azygous figures erstwhile consternation turned to celebration.

There were audible gasps erstwhile Cummins' eighth shot of nan greeting skidded done low, wholly deceiving Markram.

Then 4 deliveries later Bavuma dabbled astatine 1 which Cummins sewage to seam distant and edged into nan gloves of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Australia couldn't do this, could they?

Bavuma, who played nan mostly of his innings limping pinch a hamstring twang, hobbled off. It was an due metaphor for nan remainder of nan chase.

Markram did supply flashes of aggression - cutting and pulling Cummins for 4 to raucous encouragement - earlier different Starc reality check.

Stubbs' footwork had looked fishy to nan Aussie left-arm speedy information nan wicket but and he bowled by a 1 which nipped backmost done his protect prod and pad to deed nan apical of off.

Next shot Bedingham played and missed astatine a peach of a transportation from Starc which nipped distant and narrowly avoided nan separator of his bat.

For a fewer moments, nan hostility was palpable.

Having burned some their remaining reviews - a imaginable caught down disconnected Stubbs' mitt and flimsy lbw entreaty against Bedingham - Cummins near himself nary wriggle room successful nan arena of immoderate precocious drama.

But erstwhile nan dependable Bedingham - South Africa's apical scorer successful nan first innings - settled successful his hit alongside nan ice-cool Markram nan crippled was up for nan Aussies.

Markram whipped Josh Hazlewood for 4 past did nan aforesaid adjacent shot for 3 to bring nan magnitude needed down to azygous figures.

Sadly, Markram missed his opportunity to supply nan champagne infinitesimal erstwhile he whipped 1 disconnected his pads to Head, who hardly celebrated.

Australia's players practically to a man came to shingle his manus and Markram departed to a opinionated ovation.

It would person irritated Makram for a fleeting infinitesimal but soon South Africa's players were erupting successful ceremony connected nan pavilion successful nan location dressing room.

Verreynne fluffed a ramp - UltraEdge showing he had successful truth sewage immoderate bat connected it - earlier he delivered nan winning infinitesimal successful a much orthodox manner connected nan drive.

They are chokers nary more.