The South African cricket team has won the ICC World Test Championship against all odds . They beat defending champions and outright favouries, Australia, by five wickets at Lords in London on Saturday afternoon. It was the Proteas first victory at a final of an ICC event in 27 years.
Weve got ourselves in the final, where there were doubters as to the route that we had to take when we won against so-called weaker teams. We are happy that we were able to perform like this, and hopefully that squashes that. I think for us as a country, heres an opportunity for us as divided as we are at times to forget all of that, rejoice in that moment, and just be one. Im sure the people will be celebrating it with us and you can trust that we will be celebrating, says an elated captain, Temba Bavuma.
Resuming on 213 for the loss of two wickets in pursuit of 282 for victory, the Proteas lost two wickets fairly early on. It couldve set the cat amongst the pigeons.
But opening batsman Aiden Markram, who put on 147 runs for the third wicket with Bavuma, took his team to within six runs of victory.
He scored 136 in the Proteas cause, winning their first final of an ICC event.