Former South Africa (sa) captain Graeme Smith, Proteas stars and cricketing fraternity congratulated SA as they clinched their maiden ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title, defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord's on Saturday.
SA ended their 27-year wait for an ICC Trophy since the ICC Knockout 1998, securing their first-ever world title in any format by defeating Australia by five wickets. This was a result of a memorable partnership between centurion Markram and skipper Bavuma, the latter batting despite hams
Rabada and Markram, two teammates from the 'Class of 2014' which won the U19 World Cup for South Africa, stood out as the main heroes for their sides as a nine-wicket haul from Rabada and a Lord's century from Markram helped Proteas to their first-ever world title, beating Australia by five
With this victory, South Africa has laid their hands on their first-ever world title in international cricket. Also, this is their second ICC trophy after the ICC Knockout 1998.
Chasing 282 to win, South Africa are 213 for two at the end of day three thanks to a majestic century from Markram and a gutsy 65 not out from captain Temba Bavuma.
Markram's historic Lord's ton, first-ever by a Proteas player in an ICC tournament final, and his 143-run unbeaten stand with skipper Temba Bavuma have left SA just 69 runs short with eight wickets to go in pursuit of their first-ever world title in the sport.
Wiaan Mulder, South African all-rounder, said that the Proteas' approach removed his fear of failing in the second innings of the World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's in London on Friday.
During a run-chase of 282 in what had been an absolutely hellish match for batters so far, Markram put on an unbeaten century partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma, ending the day with 102* in 159 balls, with 11 fours. Thanks to the efforts of these two, Proteas is just a few more runs away
At the end of day three, SA was 213/2, with Markram (102*) and Bavuma (65*) unbeaten. They need 69 runs to win in their run-chase of 282 runs. This is the first-ever century by a Proteas player in an ICC tournament final.
A frustrating stand between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for 10th wicket, during which they put on 59 runs and Starc scored a historic first-ever fifty by a player batting at number nine or below in an ICC knockout match, took Aussies from 152/9 to 207, helping them put up a challenging
Starc, Hazlewood achieved this feat during the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa on Friday. Coming into the day three at 144/8, Australia lost Nathan Lyon early, but Starc struck a historic half-century, the first one by a batter number nine or below in a ICC tournament