South Africa defeated Australia in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final to win the World Test Championship title, at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London on June 14. This was a first ICC senior men's title for South Africa since 1998. After choosing to bowl first in the match, Kagiso Rabada's five-wicket haul (5/51) helped South Africa bowl out Australia for only 212 in the first innings. Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) scored half-centuries. Australia came back strong, bowling out South Africa for 138 in the second innings of the match and securing a 74-run lead. Pat Cummins scalped six wickets (6/28). Australia then set a 282-run target for South Africa to chase down as they managed 207 in their second innings. Mitchell Starc scored a gritty 58* while Kagiso Rabada (4/59) and Lungi Ngidi (3/38) were among the wickets. Chasing 282, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma stitched a match-winning 147-run partnership. Temba Bavuma scored 66 while Aiden Markram struck a classy century (136). Australia did fight back with three wickets on Day 4, but South Africa went past the finish line in the first session with Kyle Verreynne hitting the winning runs. Mitchell Starc was Australia's best bowler in the last innings, picking up three wickets (3/66).
