South Africa has accomplished its goal after 9722 days, 27 years, and a million heartbreaks. The wait is finally over, as the Proteas win their first ICC Trophy of the century and their second overall (following the 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy), after winning the ICC World Test Championship. And they’ve ended the drought in style, defeating defending champions Australia by five wickets.

South Africa suffered their most painful agony one year ago, losing the T20 World Cup Final to India by seven runs despite having the championship firmly in their grasp with five overs left, requiring only 30 off the final 30 balls and six wickets still intact.

However, South Africa’s redemption came in June 2025, when they became the third team to win the WTC mace, following New Zealand and Australia.

As a result, Temba Bavuma becomes only the second South African captain (after Hansie Cronje) to win an ICC Trophy and the first to win a World Championship.

Bavuma is also the first skipper to win the WTC without losing a game. Bavuma is unbeaten as a Test captain, with South Africa winning nine matches and drawing one.

South Africa entered the day needing 69 runs to win the title with eight wickets in hand. However, they had a very early fright when skipper Bavuma was bowled by Pat Cummins on the third over of the day, nicking one to the keeper. Bavuma only added one run to his overnight total of 65.

Tristan Stubbs went in at No. 5, however he played an incredibly timid innings, similar to his first innings knock, scoring 8 from 43 balls before being bowled by Mitchell Starc.

At 241/4, Australia still had hope, but a genuinely remarkable effort from the ever-composed Aiden Markram saw the Proteas win. Markram finally fell for 136 when the Proteas were a hit away, but David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne eventually led the Proteas home, with the wicketkeeper batsman striking the winning runs off Starc.