How Temba Bavuma’s brave team took a giant leap for South African Test cricket

South Africa comprehensively beat Australia to finally land their first cricket trophy in an International Cricket Council event.

Captain Temba Bavuma led his side to victory despite miraculously enduring a hamstring injury in most of his second innings. He was caught off Australian captain Pat Cummings’ disciplined bowling on the the fourth day of the final at Lords cricket ground in England

South Africa recovered from a low score of 138 all out (57.1) in the first innings while chasing to win 282-5 (83.4).

Australia’s low first innings score of 212 all out (56.4) looked much better when they dominated South Africa. The second innings score of 207 all out (65.0) proved insufficient as an inspired South Africa won by 5 wickets

Bavuma’s partner Aiden Markram was caught on 166 looking for 6 runs to win it for South Africa. Markram was voted Man of the Match.

“This is what we wanted to do, we planned for it, prepped for it and put in the work. We’re happy we could take it away. I hope our performance gives credit to why we were in the final.

“I went against the advice of the coaches [to keep batting], they thought the wiser decision was to let someone else in who could run properly.

But I thought it was important I stayed out here, me and Aiden went out there and put up a total. It could’ve gone the other way and I could’ve been criticised but we’re here now.

Bavuma told BBC TMS that: “Look at the crowd, it feels like a home game. Past guys, they had the opportunities but didn’t have the chance to do what we did. We hope we can inspire other guys to go and collect some silverware.”

“Whilst we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, choke. It’s been years since we’ve overcome a final, we’ve been etched in history, we’re part of something that has never been done. It’s special in a lot of ways.

“Also, it’s a chance for South Africa to be united. We’ve got a cause where we can put aside out differences and enjoy. We just have to embrace it.”

South Africa have rather unfairly been referred to as Chokers based on a combination of shock defeats from one of cricket’s standout sides. They won’t miss the tag anymore surely.

Names like Hansie Cronje, Shane and Graeme Pollock (father and son), all-rounder Jacque Kallis, generational talent batsmen Ab De Villiers, Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Faf Du Plessis to name just a few tried and failed on the biggest stage only to fail spectacularly to put South Africa’s name firmly on the mast of World Champions.

South Africa famously won The Rugby World Cup in 1995 against a talented New Zealand side. The football team won The Afcon title in 1996.

South Africa have been the best Test Cricket playing country this century.

Teams like India famously had to doctor pitches to play narrow the embarrassing talent gap when hosting matches against South Africa with players like Ab De Villiers, Faf Du Plessis, Hasima Amla, Morne and Ab Morkel, J P Duminy, Vernon Filander among others.

The quest began in 1992 just after the end of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990.

South Africa’s cricket team has experienced its fair share of disappointments in major tournaments. Here are a few notable examples:

-1992 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was denied a spot in the semifinals due to a rain-affected match against England, which led to a complex calculation (Duckworth Louis method) that ultimately eliminated them.
-1996 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was knocked out in the quarterfinals by the West Indies.
-1999 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the semifinals by Australia in a thrilling match that ended in a tie.
-2003 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the group stage due to a worse net run rate than Sri Lanka.
-2007 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the group stage after losing to Australia and New Zealand.
-2011 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the quarterfinals by New Zealand.
-2015 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the semifinals by New Zealand.
-2019 Cricket World Cup: South Africa was eliminated in the group stage after failing to qualify for the semifinals.

These disappointments have often been attributed to various factors, including:

1. “Choking under pressure.” South Africa has struggled to perform under pressure in big matches.
2. “Lack of consistency.” The team has often shown inconsistency in their performance, with some players struggling to replicate their form in major tournaments.
3. “Inability to finish matches” South Africa has often struggled to finish matches, with their batsmen failing to score big runs or their bowlers failing to defend low totals.

To be frank African teams battle the pressure of history on the world stage. This is the pressure to be “the first African team” to do ABC. The cricketing playing field has been made uneven using lawfare.

Just recently Senegal embarrassed England 3-1 in a friendly match followed by massive fallout in England. Players of African descent who have been integrated into the team sadly are blamed for these defeats.

In recent decades N Srinivasan formerly of Indian board BCCI and ICC was heavily criticised in his own country for guaranteeing that the Big 3 of India, Australia and Britain would always get more revenue than the others despite the contributions or sporting merits of New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and others.

In fact colourful crowds from Zimbabwe and South Africa have livened up the usually conservative atmosphere in the United Kingdom despite their countries’ disadvantaged financial and sporting positions. The sport desperately needs to grow and to be more inclusive.

Which brings us to Lungisani Ngidi. Imagine being called up for the Test Match final as a black cricketer when up against two other white men? Mutters of complaint where heard in South Africa, plagued by it’s own racial issues, when it comes to selection.

Captain Temba Bavuma muttered: “We’ve seen what Patto [Paterson] did for us at the end of last season. But from a tactical point of view, there’s a little bit more pace from Lungi. He is taller as well.”

Dissenting voices were decisively silenced when Ngidi took the valuable wicket of Steve Smith, Australia’s best better with only 13 runs, a miracle of underestimated proportions.

Ngidi knew straight away he had got the wicket and launched into his exuberant traditional celebrations. The umpire was not convinced until a review showed that Ngidi would have struck the wicket. Bavuma’s selection was vindicated.

Player of the match, Aiden Markram on BBC Test Match Special: “It is emotional, it’s been a very long time coming. We’ve got close in the past couple of years and not got over the line. The first one is always going to be the toughest.

“The guys have been working really hard but it never really feels like it until you’ve won it, so the guys are emotional.

“Australia are quite a tough team, we fell behind and were put under a lot of pressure but we were able to adapt and finish the game.

“It’s very special: growing up, Lord’s was the one venue I wanted to play at. To do it at a final and win is something really special.

“It will rank up there as number one, my Test career has been hard going, very stop-start. To get a hundred has been great to help the team.”

South Africa Keshav Maharaj told BBC on Test Match Special: “We’ve come a long way as a team, as a country. We always say we want to be good people and play good. We’re moving in the right direction as a cricketing nation.

“After 25 years of pain to finally get over the line is super emotional. We’re so grateful to have Temba to get us over the line.

“Diversity is our strength so to see the crowd, they stand for the meaning of our rainbow nation. To lift the trophy is going to unite the nation even more.”

With an even playing field and more matches against the best and well resourced teams surely African teams will cause more upsets.

2025 has been sport’s year of firsts. Tottenham won a European Cup. PSG won the football Champions league. Carlos Alcaraz retained his Roland Garros title in France (tennis).

Crystal Palace won football’s FA cup. Newcastle wonn their first domestic cup in the Carabao Cup. Liverpool won a league title in front of a crowd for the first time in 35 years. Coco Gauf won her first French Open.

Most South Africans missed the decisive Test Match win as it was not shown on Free to Air channel SABC.

Envious gloaters who labelled South Africa Chokers are themselves choking on one of sport’s long awaited firsts.