Bavuma, Markram, Rabada and other South Africans who starred in historic victory over Australia in WTC Final

South Africa brought 27 years of heartbreaks across various ICC events to an end on Saturday, defeating Australia by five wickets at Lord’s to be crowned the new world Test champions. The Proteas were staring at the prospect of faltering in the final hurdle yet again after getting bowled out for just 138 on Day 2 , conceding a 74-run lead to Pat Cummins’ men in the process.

The Temba Bavuma-led side, however, bounced back in style over the next couple of days as South Africa – labelled “chokers” for throwing away crunch games in ICC events from winning positions – stood tall and chased down the stiff 282-run target with half of their wickets intact and five sessions yet to be played.

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Here are five players who played a key role in a victory that many would label the greatest in South African cricketing history:

Temba Bavuma

Bavuma has been on a roll ever since he succeeded Dean Elgar to become South Africa’s first black Test captain in February 2023, with the Proteas having won their last eight Tests on the trot under his leadership, including the WTC Final at the ‘Home of Cricket’.

And the 35-year-old, who is yet to lose a Test as captain, led from the front with a gritty 66 during South Africa’s chase of the 282-run target set by Australia, braving a hamstring injury to forge a match-winning 147-run stand with Markram.

Aiden Markram

Markram had been dismissed for a six-ball duck in the first innings after getting cleaned up by Mitchell Starc, and was facing a pair when he walked out to begin South Africa’s chase on Day 3. Only this time a determined Markram produced what surely is the finest knock of his career – an innings of 136 spanning more than six hours that contained 14 boundaries.

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The Proteas were under pressure after Markram’s opening partner Ryan Rickelton was dismissed with just 9 on the board, but it was his positive approach at the centre and his crucial partnerships with Wiaan Mulder and skipper Bavuma that not only brought them back into the game but put them in pole position for victory. The 30-year-old was dismissed with South Africa a hit away from victory and was later awarded the Player of the Match for his contribution.

Kagiso Rabada

Let’s not forget the chief architect of South Africa’s historic triumph at Lord’s from the bowling department – KG Rabada, whose match haul of 9/110 (5/51 and 4/59) ensured Australia struggled to cross 200 in both of their innings.

Rabada, who was coming into this game on the back of a doping controversy, made an instant impact after Proteas captain Bavuma opted to field, getting rid of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the same over with a Dukes ball that was six overs old. He grabbed three wickets after tea on the same day as Australia crumbled to 212 all out from 190/5.

The 30-year-old pacer accounted for Khawaja and Green in the same over in the second innings as well, this time in a space of three balls. And it was his twin strike that rekindled South Africa’s hopes after they had conceded a 74-run lead, as they would go on to reduce the Aussies to 73/7 before bowling them out for 207.

David Bedingham

Bedingham had top-scored in the first innings with a patient 45 off 111 deliveries, stitching a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership with skipper Bavuma and helping South Africa reach 121/5 at lunch on Day 2 – before Cummins wreaked havoc with a devastating spell.

Two days later, the middle-order batter would chip in with an unbeaten 21, adding 35 for the fifth wicket with Markram just when the Aussies were starting to fight back with a couple of wickets and later guiding the team over the line in the company of Kyle Verreynne, who got the honour of scoring the winning runs.

Lungi Ngidi 

The South African pace department’s red-hot performance on Day 3 was headlined by Rabada but had an equally important supporting role from Ngidi, who collected 3/38.

Among Ngidi’s victims was Steve Smith, who departed for 13 after collecting 66 in the first innings in what was one of the most crucial moments of the game. And it took a brilliant a review by the South Africans after an unsuccessful LBW appeal for Ngidi to get rid of the premier Australian batter.