‘Don’t Celebrate Yet…’: Why No Cricket Fan Can Bet On South Africa In WTC Final Against Australia

Last Updated:June 14, 2025, 10:31 is

WTC 2025 Final: Will South Africa lift their maiden World Test Championship trophy? Nervous cricket fans are eager to know.

South Africa are on the brink of doing something special. Taking on Australia in the World Test Championship final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Temba Bavuma-led side were given a target of 282 after Mitchell Starc’s (58) late yet vital partnership with Alex Carey (43) helped Australia recover from the early slump of 73 for 7 to eventually being bowled out for 207. After managing 212 in their first innings, Australia dominated with the ball, bundling South Africa for a paltry 138 in their first innings.

Given a mountainous task of chasing 282 on a low-scoring track, the match appeared to be largely in Australia’s favour but Aiden Markram and the skipper Bavuma had a mission on their hands and they weren’t going out without a fight. Markram smashed a sensational and unbeaten 102 while his partner, Bavuma, playing with a single leg, put up a spirited 65 on the scoreboard.

At the end of Day 3, South Africa found themselves in a cruising position, concluding the successful day at 213 for a loss of just two wickets.

Only 69 runs to create history at the Lord’s on Saturday, it is almost certain that South Africa is enroute lifting the WTC trophy, their first ICC trophy in 27 years.

What could go wrong?

Cricket fans believe “it’s not over until it’s over” when it comes to South Africa.

Don’t Celebrate Yet

Cricket lovers are backing South Africa with an asterisk of “but what if they choke…”

There were voices of the hopeful too.

“I hope South Africa doesn’t choke this time. They deserve an ICC trophy more than anyone else. Temba Bavuma is playing the innings of his life,” wrote one user on ‘X’.

“If it wasn’t the year it has been in sport, people would have still gone to sleep thinking that South Africa can choke from here. 2025 has made people believe,” quipped another.

Ghost Of T20 Final

South Africa, often criticised and trolled for faltering at big occasions, famously fumbled the T20 World Cup trophy on 29 June 2024 when they lost to India by 7 runs. Needing 30 off 30 with six wickets in hand after 15 overs, the Proteas were well on their way to India’s target of 177.

That equation, however, changed soon and South Africa found themselves in a situation where they needed 16 off the last over bowled by Hardik Pandya.

Suryakumar Yadav’s sensational catch of David Miller sealed the fate of the title in India’s favour.

Wait… There’s More

To rub salt into the wounds of nervous South African fans, a user on ‘X’ pulled up a scorecard of South Africa taking on West Indies in 1992.

“Just to keep South African fans a little anxious, here’s the scorecard from SA’s 1st test after readmission in 1992.

Began their day needing 79 with 8 wkts in hand!”

You got this, South Africa. Or do you?

*Vsauce music intensifies*

Anurag Verma

Anurag Verma, News Editor at News18.com, works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers humourous…Read More

Anurag Verma, News Editor at News18.com, works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers humourous… Read More

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