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South Africa win WTC Title: South Africa outclassed Australia at Lord's in the final and clinched their maiden World Test Championship title. They defeated the defending champions by 5 wickets, breaking the 27-year jinx of not winning an ICC Trophy.

South Africa chased down the 282-run target in the 84th over in their second innings, winning the all-important match well inside four days. Aiden Markram was the star performer for the Proteas as he smashed a memorable century in the challenging run chase. He played a 136-run knock on the back of 14 fours. On the other hand, skipper Temba Bavuma led from the front as well and looked in great touch with the bat.

He also smashed a crucial half-century, scoring 66 runs in the second innings. The 147-run partnership between Markram and Bavuma for the third wicket played a major role in South Africa's famous title win. Kagiso Rabada also had a massive impact in the match as he took nine wickets in the game, including a five-for in the first innings, whereas Marco Jansen (4 wickets), Lungi Ngidi (3 wickets), and David Bedingham (43 & 21*) came up with crucial efforts.

As the Rainbow Nation celebrates the historic achievement, let's take a look at all those times when the Proteas ended up so near yet so far before finally breaking the jinx.

 

1. 1992 WC, Semifinal vs England

It had more to do with the weather than nerves. But SA's fate to be the bridesmaid at major moments began in Sydney. SA needed 22 runs off 7 balls with Brian McMillan and David Richardson at the crease.

Skies opened up at the juncture, and the equation became 22 runs off 1 ball, thanks to a miscommunication on their revised target.

 

2. 1999 WC, Semifinal vs Australia

The most disastrous day in SA cricket history. They needed just 9 off the final over bowled by Aussie pacer Damien Fleming. Lance Klusener smashed the first two balls to bring the equation down to 1 run off four balls. But after a couple of dot balls, a scamper for a single ended in the run out of the last batter, Allan Donald.

The match was tied, and the Aussies entered the final against Pakistan by virtue of their earlier win over the Proteas in the Super Six.

 

3. 2003 WC at home

Co-host SA needed a win over Sri Lanka at Durban to enter the second phase of Super 6s. SA were 229 for six when the rain stopped the play, the par score under the D/L method.

But before umpire S Venkataraghavan called the teams inside, SA wicket keeper batter Mark Boucher blocked the last ball of the 45th over bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan. At that point, the match was tied, and the game never resumed, signalling the end of the road for SA at their home event.

 

4. 2015 WC semifinal vs New Zealand

SA posted a healthy 281 in a rain-curtailed 43-over-a-side last four clash against the Kiwis, who needed 30 runs off the last three overs.

So, SA finally winning? But Grant Elliot had other ideas as he smashed a last-ball six off Dale Steyn to crush SA's dreams.

 

5. 2022 T20 WC Super 12 vs Netherlands

South Africa needed just one win to enter the semifinals. They had a rather easy opponent in the inexperienced Netherlands at Adelaide.

But SA choked while chasing a gettable 159. A spirited Netherlands bundled out SA for 145 to celebrate a 13-run win that ended the former's journey at the ICC showpiece.

 

6. 2024, T20 WC vs India

South Africa was coasting at 151 for four in 16.1 overs chasing 177 against India at Bridgetown. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were well set with SA needing 26 runs off 29 balls with six wickets in hand.

But Hardik Pandya got rid of Klaasen to spark a familiar SA collapse, and they ended up at 169 for eight, losing by just 7 runs.

 

(With PTI Inputs)