By Leonard Ratnayake | Reporting from England
Saturday, 14th June 2025
The “chokers” tag for South Africa is now officially buried beneath the Lord’s turf, coincidentally at the Home of Cricket. From today, South Africa will forever be remembered not as nearly-men, but as World Test Champions, sealing a dramatic five-wicket victory over Australia at the Home of Cricket.
Australia, the defending champions, paid the price on a third-day pitch that dramatically shifted character and gave no quarter to their seamers. With relentless precision, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma stitched together a commanding, unbeaten 143-run stand by stumps on Day 3, setting the stage for what would become a historic fourth-day march toward glory. Markram stood tall on 102*, Bavuma on 65* — the Proteas needing just 69 more runs with eight wickets in hand heading into the final morning.
Though Bavuma fell early on Day 4 without adding to his overnight score, his gritty knock had already paved the path to victory. Markram, playing with poise and flair, finished unbeaten on 136, etching his name into Lord’s lore with a knock that will live long in South African cricketing memory.
Australia’s Missed Opportunities
Steve Smith offered a glimmer of brilliance in Australia’s first innings with a solid 66, surpassing the legendary Sir Donald Bradman as the highest run-scorer for Australia at Lord’s — a milestone achieved exactly a century later. Beau Webster also chipped in with a fighting 72, but the team could only muster 212 runs.
South Africa’s attack, led by a fired-up Kagiso Rabada, who claimed 5 for 51, and Marco Jansen with 3 for 49, dismantled the Australian batting lineup efficiently.
Yet it was Pat Cummins who turned the match on its head in South Africa’s first innings, ripping through the Proteas with figures of 6 for 28, his 300th Test wicket coming in the process. South Africa were bowled out for just 138, a 74-run lead on a spicy deck that looked decisive.
But the Proteas pace battery had other ideas.
Rabada (4 for 59) and Lungi Ngidi (3 for 38) sent Australia reeling once more. Despite a defiant 58* from Mitchell Starc, Australia’s second innings could only stretch to 207, setting a target of 282 — one that South Africa fancied.
From Duck to Deliverance
In a poetic twist, Markram, dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings, redeemed himself with a golden willow, his 136 a masterpiece of determination and style. Bavuma, battling a hamstring injury, contributed a critical 66 in the chase, exemplifying the steel and spirit of a team reborn.
The final word? South Africa, often branded as heartbreakers on the global stage, has broken free as champions, not chokers.
Australia, meanwhile, will reflect on Day 3 — the day everything unravelled.
Well played, South Africa.
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