Markram the hero as South Africa win WTC final, shed chokers' tag

The Proteas defeated defending champions Australia by 5 wickets to clinch an ICC title after 27 long years

- Agence France-Presse

LONDON: Aiden Markram's magnificent century was the cornerstone of South Africa's five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Saturday as the Proteas ended decades of cricket heartbreak by at last winning a major global title.

South Africa, set 282 to win, finished on 282/5 before lunch on the fourth day, with opening batsman Markram falling for 136 after taking South Africa to within six runs of the title.

The Proteas resumed on 213/2, needing just 69 more runs for victory.

Markram, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, was 102 not out and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 65 despite spending most of his innings limping with a hamstring injury.

South Africa have such a long history of folding under pressure that could not take anything for granted against serial winners and defending WTC title-holders Australia.

In 18 previous attempts in the One-Day International and T20 World Cups, South Africa had only reached a solitary final.