Bavuma one of the greatest captains after leading Proteas to Test glory

The last time SA achieved this feat was in 1998

- By Siyasanga Monoalibe

After years of relentless and mostly unfair criticism since being elected as the first black batsman to lead South Africa in Test cricket in 2014, Temba Bavuma finally got the monkey off his back and delivered the long-awaited ICC trophy after 27 years of trying.

The Proteas claimed an emphatic five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final at the Lord's Cricket Ground in England yesterday.

The last time South Africa achieved this feat was in 1998 at the ICC Knockout, the forerunner of the Champions Trophy.

Bavuma, who played the majority of what turned out to be a gripping third day with a hamstring injury, kept his end of the bargain and led by example by scoring a gutsy half-century through the pain.