Steyn, Tendulkar lead tributes as South Africa defeat Australia to win WTC Final: 'Generation of heartbreaks end here'

South Africa pulled off what could be a strong contender for the greatest victory in their cricketing history on Saturday, defeating Australia by five wickets to be crowned world Test champions and heal the wounds caused by years of heartbreaks.

Aiden Markram (136) and Temba Bavuma (66) stood tall during the South Africa’s chase of a challenging 282-run target while Kagiso Rabada was the hero with the ball, collecting nine wickets in the match (5/51 and 4/59) as South Africa ended a 27-year wait for a second ICC trophy.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins was brilliant with the ball as he collected 6/28 in the first innings to bowl South Africa out for a meagre 138, helping his team collect a sizeable 74-run lead and boost their chances of winning back-to-back WTC finals.

More from First Cricket

Former New Zealand coach who defeated India in WTC final appointed Andhra Pradesh head coach for Ranji Trophy Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by six wickets to record commanding win in Asia Cup 2025

The Proteas, however, did not buckle under pressure in a final for once, and thanks primarily to Rabada and Ngidi in Australia’s second innings as well as Markram and Bavuma’s match-winning 147-run partnership, came out on top.

Here’s how former cricketers including Proteas pace legend Dale Steyn reacted to South Africa’s historic win at the ‘Home of Cricket’:

HOME!!!!! 🏆

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 14, 2025

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

Test cricket continues to weave its magic.

In a final where every session had its own story, @ProteasMenCSA found calm in the storm. Markram’s composure and Bavuma’s grit under pressure stood tall in the fourth innings. A century that will be remembered, a partnership that…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 14, 2025

Masterful Markram! Great win by South Africa led by Temba Bavuma. This was a great ad for test cricket. Congratulations to ICC World Test Champions South Africa!@Dafabet

— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) June 14, 2025

South Africa 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) June 14, 2025

Congratulations to SA - Too good and a great win. A Great innings by Markram. Loved the effort by the Aussies today as always. @cricketcomau
Test cricket what a game in conditions that provided a contest between bat and ball
Long live test cricket!!

— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) June 14, 2025

South Africa have done what very few gave them the chance to 🥹

A generation of heartbreaks end here 🔥

World Test Champions. 🇿🇦🏏#WTCFinal #ProteaFire #Redemption pic.twitter.com/vPMG44l7rm

— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) June 14, 2025

For the next 2 hours, I am South African. #Lords 🇿🇦

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 14, 2025

🇿🇦💪 pic.twitter.com/hcIVBjsVyw

— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) June 14, 2025

Absolutely thrilled for @TembaBavuma as Captain of @ProteasMenCSA to lift their first @ICC Trophy - the World Test Championship - at Lord's. Special mention for Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi. As emotional a day for SA sport as one could experience.#Proteas

— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) June 14, 2025

So so so happy for South Africa! The gravity of this win for them, especially in a final innings run chase… wow! 😭👏👏👏👏👏

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 14, 2025

Been at a lot of cricket in my life. Travelled the world. But this feels as special as any of them.

The team of inherited heartbreak has finally won their first world title. Against Australia, at Lord's.

They lived in the shade for the longest time, no one deserves the sun…

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) June 14, 2025