PROTEAS WINhistoric five-wicket victory over Australia in World Test Championship final
Cape Town, South Africa - 16 June 2023: Aiden Markram starred in South Africa's historic five-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's, with a superb 136 helping the Proteas get over the line in an ICC tournament after countless heartbreaks in the past.
The Proteas were left needing just 27 to win from 28 balls with six wickets in hand during last year's T20 World Cup final against India, only to crumble to a seven-run loss in the end and watch another ICC trophy slip out of their grasp. However, Markram was determined to finish the job this time, guided his team over the line after years of heartbreaks in ICC events.
The Proteas were in a comfortable position of 213/2, needing 69 more to win with eight wickets in hand ahead of what turned out to be the final day of the WTC Final at Lord's. Despite their comfortable equation, South Africa had a history of collapsing under pressure in knockout matches at global tournaments, leaving none of their supporters breathing easy.
Markram revealed that thoughts of South Africa's heartbreaking defeat against India in last year's T20 World Cup final flooded his mind ahead of playing the crucial role in the WTC Final. He said, "I thought a lot about the T20 World Cup last night. And how helpless I felt sitting on the side after getting out and I was like I don’t want to sit there again."
This motivation helped Markram not just focus on his individual game but also on the team's victory. He expressed relief that South Africa will no longer be haunted by the "c-word" of choking, which has plagued the team since their readmission into international cricket in 1991.
Markram's exceptional century sealed a historic five-wicket victory for South Africa, chasing down the challenging 282-run target with relative ease. His remarkable performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' award in the post-match press conference.
As he celebrated the Proteas' first ICC title in 27 years, Markram cracked open a beer, revealing an entertaining gesture during the team's lap of honour around Lord's. When asked about the incident, Markram chuckled and said, "It was cool... I've had my first one for the day, and I'm pretty sure there will be few more." This jubilant moment marked a new chapter of triumph for South African cricket, as the Proteas finally silenced their critics with victory.