London, Jun 14: The year 2025 has turned out to be a ‘Year of Redemptions’ with teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Hobart Hurricanes, Bologna and Union Saint-Gilloise, as well players like Virat Kohli and Harry Kane, ending their title droughts to mark new beginnings. And South Africa certainly joined the party and followed the trend.

The Proteas were once said to have carrying the ‘Chokers’ tag for their continuous run of missing out on ‘Champions’ tag for more than two decades despite being considered as one of the cricket powerhouses with many greats in the team. However, they finally broke the shackles and redeemed themselves with what the South African cricket and their fans had desperately needed – an ICC Title.

The current crop of South African players, led by a calm and composed Temba Bavuma, outwitted the defending WTC champions and considered the ‘Ultimate Boss of ICC Tournaments’ – Australia. They defeated the Pat Cummins-led Aussies by five wickets in a topsy-turvy World Test Championship 2023-25 Final at the iconic Lord’s – The Mecca of Cricket.

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. Notably, their last success at an ICC tournament had come way back in 1998 when they won the ICC KnockOut Trophy (now ICC Champions Trophy).

Come to the match, 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 Trophy success.

Resuming from 213/2, South Africa were dealt an early blow when Cummins got rid of Bavuma. With Nathan Lyon getting some turn, it meant that South Africa had to go through the nervy path in their quest to win the championship. Australia made another inroad when Mitchell Starc castled a jittery Tristan Stubbs through the gate and took out the leg-stump bail.

Once Australia wasted their third review of the innings, a clear sign of desperation, the writing was on the wall. Markram and David Bedingham were a picture of calmness while rotating the strike easily, as South Africa inched closer to the target.

Though Markram couldn’t finish the chase as he flicked to mid-wicket and fell for 136 off Josh Hazlewood, Kyle Verreynne hit the winning runs by carving Starc through cover-point to begin joyful, emotional celebrations in the dressing room, loyal supporters, family members, and former players in the Home of Cricket, as well as back home in South Africa.

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.

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