Close

Aiden Markram helps South Africa beat Australia in World Test Championship final

Set 282 to win, 70 more than had been scored in any of the first three innings at Lord’s, Markram scored 136 runs.

By contributor PA Sport Staff
Published
Supporting image for story: Aiden Markram helps South Africa beat Australia in World Test Championship final
South Africa’s Aiden Markram, left, is congratulated on his match-winning innings by Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne (Ben Whitley/PA)

Aiden Markram’s century led South Africa to an emotional five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final.

Set 282 to win, 70 more than had been scored in any of the first three innings at Lord’s, Markram and captain Temba Bavuma put on 147 to break the back of the chase.

South Africa's Kyle Verreynne, right, celebrates with team-mate David Bedingham after hitting the winning runs at Lord's
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne, right, celebrates with team-mate David Bedingham after hitting the winning runs at Lord’s (Ben Whitley/PA)

Bavuma fell early on Saturday morning for 66 and, though Markram was dismissed six runs short of the victory target, his 136 was the crucial innings and allowed David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne to finish the job.

It ends a series of agonising near misses for the five-time World Cup semi-finalists and 2024 T20 World Cup runners-up and marks the Proteas’ first global trophy since 1998, when they won the Wills International Cup – the precursor to the Champions Trophy – and the Commonwealth Games.