South Africa win WTC to land first major title

Markram delivers WTC glory to end South Africa's history of heartbreak

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At 12.45pm on a sunny Saturday at Lord's, South Africa secured the most significant moment in their cricket history with the World Test Championship title. It was not without nerves how could it be? but this time there was no agony at the end. Aiden Markram took them to the brink with an epic 136, an innings that will go down as the country's most important in Tests, before the winning runs were driven through the covers by Kyle Verreynne to spark the celebrations.

No longer was the 1998 ICC Knockout, with its various names and caveats, the only reference point for South Africa's global success. After so many near misses, they had a crowning moment. It will be a hugely popular victory, too, as the underdog story so often is, and as part of the wider narrative around the health of Test cricket outside of the Big Three.