South Africa Claims First ICC Trophy in 27 Years by Defeating Australia

Historic Victory for South Africa
In a thrilling match at Lord's, South Africa triumphed over Australia by five wickets, marking their first ICC trophy win in 27 years. This victory ends a long wait since their last title in 1998 when they defeated the West Indies in the Champions Trophy final, where Jacques Kallis was named both player of the match and player of the series. Not only did South Africa break their own drought, but they also halted Australia's impressive 15-year streak of winning every ICC final they participated in, with their last loss occurring against England in the 2010 T20 World Cup final.
Australia's Final Defeats: A Timeline
Despite Australia's historical dominance in ICC tournaments, they have faced a few notable defeats in finals. The West Indies claimed victory in the 1975 World Cup final, Sri Lanka shocked them in the 1996 World Cup, and England outperformed them in the 2010 T20 World Cup. Most recently, South Africa secured their inaugural ICC title by overcoming Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final, thanks to Aiden Markram's century and Kagiso Rabada's exceptional bowling performance.
Markram and Rabada Shine in the Final
After a disappointing first innings where he scored a duck, Aiden Markram returned to the crease determined to lead his team to victory in the second innings. His remarkable 136 runs made him the first South African to score a century in any ICC final, proving pivotal in the match. Captain Temba Bavuma also contributed significantly with a solid 66 runs. On the bowling front, Kagiso Rabada was instrumental, taking five wickets in the first innings and four in the second, effectively dismantling Australia's batting order.
Celebration of South Africa's Triumph
SOUTH AFRICA ARE THE ICC TEST CHAMPIONS! πΏπ¦β¨ pic.twitter.com/V8eVJFeCql
β Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 14, 2025