South Africa vs Australia Match Stats

Length ball on middle, David Bedingham works it towards short mid-wicket.

Back of a length, on off, David Bedingham blocks it back to the bowler.

Length ball, tailing in a bit, just outside off, David Bedingham defends it off the back foot.

A touch short outside off, punched through point for a single.

Short again, outside off, slapped through point for one more.

Outside off, on a length, David Bedingham arches back and punches it towards cover.

Overpitched on off, Aiden Markram goes for the slog sweep, but doesn't quite get it off the middle of the bat, as he ends up hitting it along the ground to deep mid-wicket. Single taken.

Flighted delivery on off, David Bedingham flicks it to short square leg.

Another tossed up delivery, outside off, David Bedingham defends it off the front foot.

Outside off, punched towards point.

Another appeal for a catch at short leg. Turned down again. Slightly short in length, Bedingham looked to flick it away and the ball went off something towards the keeper, who parried it to short leg. Marnus Labuschagne was very confident this was out, but the umpire was equally confident that this was not out. The replay shows that the ball went off the waist of Bedingham.

On middle, clipped to short mid-wicket.

FOUR! Extremely positive batting from Markram as he greets the new ball in style. Just 10 runs needed for South Africa to script history! A full ball, on middle and leg, straight on. Aiden Markram flicks this a bit uppishly, wide of mid on to his right, for a boundary.

Into single digits now! Fuller ball, again on the stumps, Aiden Markram flicks this off the front foot, again wide of mid on. But this time, the timing is not that good and the ball loses its steam on the way to the ropes. The batters cross for the third by the time the fielder from the inner ring gets to the ball. Just 7 needed now.

Nagging length, shaping away, outside off, David Bedingham gets beaten on the cut shot.

Fuller, around off, David Bedingham pushes it gently to mid off.

Within a distance of a hit now, are South Africa! Back of a length, around off, David Bedingham punches this through cover-point for a comfortable single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Well, no one in the ground can believe what has happened, least of all, Aiden Markram. He makes a very slow walk off the field. With 6 needed to win and Hazlewood dishing out a length ball, this had six written all over it. Instead it is an anti-climatic wicket. This is a length ball, angled at the leg stump line. Aiden Markram looks to heave this across, but mistimes it off the inner half of the bat, and the ball goes flat towards the right of mid-wicket. Travis Head throws himself with the dive, with both his hands towards the direction of the ball. Falls over but maintains the ball in his hands. The South African players in the Lord's gallery get aloft in applause for this historic knock from Markram. Also, a display of good sportsmanship from the Aussies as almost all players walk towards Markram to appreciate his batting. Markram finally makes it to the Long Room of Lord's and is cheered by the members there as well as he ascends the stairs.

Full and around the off stump. David Bedingham drives it on the front foot to mid off.

One more run closer, are South Africa! A hard-length delivery on off. David Bedingham works with soft hands to the leg side. Cummins at mid on charges towards the ball as he dives forward but does not manage to pick up the ball. Bedingham gets home to the other end with a dive.

An inswinger from Starc, full and on middle and leg. Blocked to mid on.

A wide yorker, across off, Kyle Verreynne tries to dig it out to the off side, but misses to lay any bat on it.

Length, just outside the off stump. Kyle Verreynne pokes at it, playing away from his body, and gets beaten.

Back of a length, across off, punched through point for a single.

Hard length, on middle. Kyle Verreynne steers this to deep backward square leg for a single. Just 3 needed to win now.

Hard length again, nibbling away from off. David Bedingham opens the bat face late and dabs the ball to the short third region. The fielder from first slip chases it down and the batters cross for a single.

Fuller and just around off, pushed off the inner half of the bat, to mid off. Cummins there is a bit wide and makes a diving stop to his right.

Too full, on the stumps, Kyle Verreynne drives it straight back to the bowler.

On top of off, Kyle Verreynne taps this length ball into the off side.

THE SCORES ARE LEVEL! Back of a length, outside off, Kyle Verreynne is already standing across the off stump and dabs the ball to the left of the cover fielder. Marnus Labuschagne dives to his left and intercepts the ball. A single taken. All the South African supporters at Lord's eagerly wait as their side is just one run away from glory.

Length, across off, Kyle Verreynne rises with the bounce and taps it out to short cover.

Oh, my word! An appeal for caught behind from Alex Carey, but the umpire Richard Illingworth shakes his head. One can understand this shot by Kyle Verreynne, as he tried to finish it off in T20 style. Carey is very certain as he believes he heard something, maybe off the glove or the bat. But Australia don't have any review left. And YES, there's a spike on UltraEdge just when the ball passes close to the gloves. Length ball, on leg, Kyle Verreynne shuffles across and tries to play the scoop shot, but misses.

Full toss on the off stump, Kyle Verreynne pushes it back to the right of the bowler.

SOUTH AFRICA WIN THE MACE! A wait of 26 long years has finally ended for the Rainbow nation as the Proteas script history, at the Home of Cricket, Lord's. The trophy drought has ended for South Africa. Emotions and tears of happiness run down the faces of all the South African players in the gallery. A full toss, outside off, angled across, Kyle Verreynne drives this through the cover region and has his bat and arms aloft as the ball travels to the ropes. The celebrations begin from Johannesburg to Cape Town, from Pretoria to Paarl, as they believed, and didn't stop dreaming that this day would arrive one day. And their belief and patience have finally fruited after a long, long wait as South Africa win the World Test Championship 2023-25, defeating Australia by 5 wickets.