Going where no South African has been before

The South African fans in the Grand Stand had not stopped cheering or singing from the moment Kyle Verreynne had scored the winning run.

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If anything, they'd kept at it for most of Saturday morning. But then, minutes before the start of the presentation ceremony, they broke into the loudest rendition of their most popular number for the day.

"Ohhhhh Temmbaaa Bavvuuuumaaa.." echoed around Lord's. Temba Bavuma, the subject of the song of course, however, stood there staring blankly at his adoring fans serenading him. Like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Like he couldn't get his head around how he'd got here. Like he simply couldn't fathom the fact that he had just officially become the first-ever captain of a world champion South African cricket team.

Like it was all a blur.

Bavuma's reaction to the singing was symptomatic of his reactions generally on Saturday till that point. After spending a chunk of the slow and steady trek towards the target buried inside the dressing-room, the captain had taken a seat front and centre on the balcony for the final dozen or so runs.

From that point on, the camera continued to unfailingly zoom into Bavuma's face as his batters ticked off the runs, mostly in singles with a boundary thrown in the mix. While others around him were already beginning to sense the moment, along with the imminent elation, their inspirational leader sat nonplussed, his face covered in his hands.

There was no smile. There was no twitch. There was no show of emotion. There was no emotion.

As if Bavuma didn't want to tempt fate or any of those other omens that have haunted and tormented South African teams for so long. Even if all South Africa needed now were a handful of runs. Even if all South Africa needed now were a few more deep breaths.

Bavuma was not prepared to let his guard down. He was not ready to budge, keeping his face covered partly in his hands. Not even once was the target of 282 three runs away. Or when Verreynne attempted the hero shot by trying to ramp Mitchell Starc.