WTC Final triumph an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite: South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma

Temba Bavuma hoped South Africa’s historic victory over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final would “unite a divided country” while adding that the Proteas would “celebrate as one”.

South Africa ended a 27-year wait for an ICC title on Saturday after chasing down a challenging 282-run target set by Australia, who were aiming to win back-to-back titles, with five wickets and as many sessions to spare at the iconic Lord’s in London.

‘It’s been a special couple of days’: Bavuma

For a team that had endured multiple heartbreaks in global events since their readmission in November 1991, Saturday’s victory at the ‘Home of Cricket’ will go down as the greatest in South African history. One that was primarily shapred Bavuma’s inspirational leadership as well as Aiden Markram’s brilliant 136 and Kagiso Rabada’s nine-wicket match haul played a key role.

“It’s been a special couple of days, at some points it felt like we were in South Africa. We prepared hard, we came in with a lot of belief and lot of doubters, glad we played well. Special moment for us and people back home, probably will sink in in a couple of days,” Bavuma said at the post-match presentation ceremony before receiving the Test Mace from ICC Chair Jay Shah.

“The energy was there, I think us as a team have been wanting this. We’ve been relentless, getting to the doorstep consistently and experienced heartache, the sun’s been with us. Hopefully, this win is one of many.

“We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters on the route we took, this win squashes that. Here’s an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite. You can be rest assured we’ll celebrate as one,” Bavuma said.

Bavuma heaped praise on both Rabada and Markram, who were part of the South African team that had won the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup and had also played a key role in the victory in the WTC final.

“KG is a massive player, a couple of days ago I went to the Hall of Fame inductees, I think he’ll be on there in a few years. Came into the game under controversy and did what he did.

“Aiden is unbelievable, people have questioned his place, but he has character. He played in true Aiden fashion, he and Rabada have carried the character,” Bavuma added.

‘Haven’t scored more important runs’: Markram

Markram, who beat Rabada to the Player of the Match award with his eighth Test century, described his knock as the “most important runs” of his career and thanked the Lord’s crowd, a majority of whom were cheering for the Proteas, for contributing to “one of the most special days”.

“Haven’t scored more important runs. Weird how things worked out after a duck in the first innings. Need a bit of luck, spent some time in the middle and find runs, glad things worked out. Reception will stick out. Lord’s is the place every Test cricketer wants to play. To play a final here is incredibly special. Plenty of SA fans who’ve made through, plenty at home too, it’s one of the most special days,” said the South African T20I captain, who bounced back in style after falling for a duck on the opening day.

Markram also praised his skipper for braving through a hamstring injury to build a crucial third-wicket partnership worth 147 that proved crucial in shaping the eventual outcome of the match.

“To be honest, a lot of it came from him. He’s led us from the front for the last two-three years. He didn’t want to walk off the field yesterday, found a way to score really important runs, played an innings lot of people will remember,” added the 30-year-old all-rounder, who chipped in with a couple of wickets.

‘Things can change quickly’: Cummins

Australia skipper Pat Cummins, meanwhile, was staring at the prospect of leading his team to back-to-back WTC triumphs after collecting 6/28 that helped bowl South Africa out for a meagre 138 on Day 2 and help his team collect a sizeable 74-run lead.

The pacer, however, admitted that the Proteas did not give then a whiff in the fourth innings after they failed to bat the opposition out of the game, and credited Bavuma’s side as “deserved winners”.

“Things can change quickly, but it was a bridge too far. Few things we didn’t do right. Didn’t bat out the opposition after a decent first-innings lead. SA didn’t give us a chance in the fourth innings. There are concerns in the top-seven, guys have performed well in the last two years. Bowlers did well in the first two days. We gave everything a chance, Lyon bowled particularly well but didn’t get a wicket. Aiden and Temba didn’t give us a chance.

“South Africa showed why they’re here and are deserved winners, they kept themselves in the game throughout. It’s the pinnancle, I love Test cricket. Huge achievement to make the final, one-game shootout is a spectacle, didn’t end up on the right side but it’s been a great week,” said Cummins in his first interview as the losing captain in an ICC tournament final.