There were a couple of stutters along the way, moments when South African backsides started to twitch like a rabbit’s nose. But in the end, guided by a masterful 136 from Aiden Markram, they squeezed out the remaining 69 runs of their target to claim a five-wicket victory over Australia and win the World Test Championship.
The winning moment came at 12.45pm as Kyle Verreynne crashed Mitchell Starc through the covers and the South African-dominated crowd at Lord’s – assisted by a fair few English “neutrals” – let out an almighty roar of relief. A target of 282 runs had been reeled in and Temba Bavuma, a captain whose own personal journey has been one of overcoming doubters, could get his hands on the International Cricket Council’s mace.
Few had predicted this outcome during the lead-up and those who did were probably hoping their words would go unnoticed when South Africa slipped to 30 for four on the first evening. At that stage Kagiso Rabada’s heroics with the ball looked likely to be in vain. But Bavuma’s unfancied side clawed their way back into the contest, their captain central to the pushback, and secured their country’s first major global title.
A South African has lifted the mace before, of course, Graeme Smith doing so here in 2012 when it went to the team at the top of the Test rankings. But even just a cursory glance down the two scorecards suggests this feat surely surpasses it. Rabada is arguably the only current player who would outright demand a spot in an XI that featured players such as Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn.
Although Markam has probably now nudged out Alviro Petersen to open alongside Smith in this super group. Until it was gallingly shut down by Josh Hazlewood with six needed to win, Markram’s fourth-innings century had been a masterclass in meditative batting. The right-hander was utterly unfazed by the weight of history and an Australia attack that typically made their opponents work for every last run.
Of course there was a wobble or two. Bavuma, one half of a game-breaking stand with Markam worth 147 runs, fell in the third over of the day when he tickled Pat Cummins behind on 66. Tristan Stubbs, his replacement, was then castled by a Starc howitzer with 41 needed after crawling his way to eight from 43 balls. Sideways glances in the South Africa camp, a shot of energy for the Australians.
But the zen-like Markram anchored things at the other end, David Bedingham held firm for an unbeaten 21 at the other, and though technically caught behind with one to win – not out on the field and with Australia’s reviews all burned – Verreynne struck the shot that will go down in South African folklore. Folks questioned their place in this final but an eighth straight Test win to claim the mace made them worthy champions.
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