London: After years of suffering sadness and heartbreak in knockout games of major tournaments, South Africa finally broke a 27-year knockout hoodoo to taste championship glory after beating Australia by five wickets to win the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final on day four’s play at the Lord’s here on Saturday.
After ending day three’s play on 213/2 in their chase of 282, South Africa were finally on the doorstep of achieving glory. But with a history of folding under, that too when facing serial championship winners and WTC title-holders Australia, many were rightly cautious, though optimistic from the inside.
Markram, who ended day three with 102 not out, continued to trust his aggressive instincts to lead South Africa to championship glory with a magnificent 136, as the Proteas completed the chase in 83.4 overs to win the Ultimate Test, also their eighth straight win in the format.
Markram was at the forefront of South Africa winning the 2014 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, and this time too, he’s been at the front and centre by leading the side to a major senior championship win after the 1998 ICC Knockout, which is popularly known as the Champions Trophy.
Brief scores: Australia 212 and 207 lost to South Africa 138 and 282/5 in 83.4 overs (Aiden Markram 136, Temba Bavuma 66; Mitchell Starc 3-66, Josh Hazlewood 1-58) by five wickets. IANS
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