The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match scorecard from the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s shows South Africa winning by 5 wickets, chasing down a target of 282 runs — claiming their first-ever WTC title in one of the most gripping Test matches in recent memory.
Disclaimer: All scorecard data in this article is sourced from the official Sky Sports scorecard for the ICC World Test Championship Final, South Africa vs Australia. Statistics and match details are accurate as of the time of publication (April 2026). Expert opinions represent editorial analysis only and are not official statements from Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa, the ICC, or any governing cricket body. This article is for informational purposes only.
Match Snapshot: SA vs Australia WTC Final at Lord’s
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | ICC World Test Championship Final |
| Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood |
| Toss | South Africa won, elected to field |
| Australia 1st Innings | 212 all out (56.4 overs) |
| South Africa 1st Innings | 138 all out (57.1 overs) |
| Australia 2nd Innings | 207 all out (65 overs) |
| South Africa 2nd Innings | 282/5 (83.4 overs) |
| Result | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Aiden Markram (136) / Kagiso Rabada (9 wickets) |
| Match Referee | Javagal Srinath |
| Umpires | Chris Gaffaney, Richard Illingworth |
The Stage Is Set — Welcome to Lord’s
Lord’s Cricket Ground. The home of cricket. The most storied venue in the sport. The sun is out, the famous slope is doing its thing, and the South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team are about to play the biggest Test match of both their lives.
Australia — defending WTC champions, experienced, battle-hardened, and led by Pat Cummins. South Africa — the team that has come close before but never quite managed to lift the trophy at this level.
If you were writing a cricket script, you couldn’t ask for a better setting.
The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match scorecard that followed? Absolutely unmissable. Let’s break it down, innings by innings, hero by hero.
Australia 1st Innings: Webster & Smith Keep Them Afloat
South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl. Bold call. And initially? It looked like the right one.
Usman Khawaja was gone for a duck off Kagiso Rabada in the 7th over. Cameron Green lasted just 3 balls — another Rabada scalp. At 16/2 inside 7 overs, Australia were in serious trouble.
But then came two fighting hands. Steve Smith scored 66 off 112 balls — old-fashioned, gritty, stubborn Test cricket at its finest. He held one end together while wickets fell around him.
And Beau Webster? Beau Webster was magnificent. The young all-rounder smashed 72 off 92 balls with 11 boundaries — the top score of the innings. His partnership with Alex Carey (23) gave Australia something to fight with.
Rabada finished with a stunning 5/51. Jansen chipped in with 3/49. Australia were bowled out for 212 — not a big score at Lord’s, but not a hopeless one either.
Australia 1st Innings — Full Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khawaja | c Bedingham b Rabada | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Labuschagne | c Verreynne b Jansen | 17 | 56 | 1 | 30.36 |
| Green | c Markram b Rabada | 4 | 3 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Smith | c Jansen b Markram | 66 | 112 | 10 | 58.93 |
| Head | c Verreynne b Jansen | 11 | 13 | 1 | 84.62 |
| Webster | c Bedingham b Rabada | 72 | 92 | 11 | 78.26 |
| Carey (wk) | b Maharaj | 23 | 31 | 4 | 74.19 |
| Cummins (c) | b Rabada | 1 | 6 | 0 | 16.67 |
| Starc | b Rabada | 1 | 12 | 0 | 8.33 |
| Lyon | b Jansen | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hazlewood | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (7lb, 10nb) | 17 | — | — | — |
| Total | 56.4 overs | 212 | — | — | RR: 3.74 |
South Africa 1st Innings: Cummins is Virtually Unplayable
If Rabada’s performance in the first innings was brilliant, what Pat Cummins did to South Africa in their first innings was something else entirely.
The South Africa vs Australia WTC Final suddenly flipped on its head the moment Cummins hit his rhythm.
Aiden Markram was gone for a duck — bowled by Starc off the first over. Rickelton (16) fell to Starc. And then Cummins arrived. Over after over, he hit the length, swung it late, found edges, and produced one of the great WTC Final bowling spells.
Pat Cummins: 6/28 off 18.1 overs. Six. For. Twenty. Eight. In a Test match. At Lord’s. In a World Test Championship Final.
David Bedingham (45 off 111 balls) was the only South African batter to offer real resistance. Bavuma contributed 36. But everyone else? Cummins sent them packing with clinical, merciless precision.
South Africa folded for 138 — handing Australia a 74-run first-innings lead. At this point, every Australian supporter was feeling pretty comfortable.
South Africa 1st Innings Bowling (Australia)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starc | 13 | 3 | 41 | 2 | 3.15 |
| Hazlewood | 15 | 5 | 27 | 1 | 1.80 |
| Cummins | 18.1 | 6 | 28 | 6 | 1.54 |
| Lyon | 8 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1.50 |
| Webster | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.66 |
Australia 2nd Innings: Mitchell Starc Bats for His Life
Australia needed to build on their 74-run lead. What followed was a collapse and a rescue act wrapped into the same innings.
The top order crumbled again. Khawaja (6), Green (0), Smith (13), Head (9), Webster (9) — none of them could build a partnership. At 66/6 in the 24th over, Australia were staring at a potentially embarrassing total.
But then came two unlikely heroes. Alex Carey battled to 43 off 50 balls to stabilise things. And Mitchell Starc — a number nine — dug in for 58 not out off 136 balls. That is the innings of a genuine tail-ender who understood the weight of the moment.
Rabada picked up 4/59 in this innings, giving him a magnificent match tally of 9 wickets. Ngidi contributed 3/38.
Australia were dismissed for 207, setting South Africa a target of 282 to win the World Test Championship. For context: that would be the second-highest successful run chase in WTC Final history.
South Africa 2nd Innings: Markram Writes His Name Into History
This is the innings that defines this South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match scorecard forever.
Chasing 282. At Lord’s. After being skittled for 138 in their first knock. Against an Australian attack featuring Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood. No pressure, right?
Ryan Rickelton was gone for 6 in the second over. Early nerves. Wiaan Mulder came in, made 27, and fell to Starc at 70/2. South Africa still needed 212 more. Half the batting was still in the hut, but the situation demanded someone special.
Aiden Markram was that someone.
His innings of 136 off 207 balls with 14 boundaries was a masterclass in pressure batting. He never looked reckless — every shot was calculated, every boundary earned. He and Temba Bavuma (66 off 134 balls) built a crucial 147-run third-wicket partnership that completely shifted the game’s momentum.
Markram eventually fell for 136 with South Africa needing just 6 more to win. It was the last wicket to fall. Bedingham (21) and Verreynne (4)** knocked off the remaining runs without drama.
South Africa 282/5. Won by 5 wickets. WTC Champions. First time ever.
South Africa 2nd Innings — Full Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markram | c Head b Hazlewood | 136 | 207 | 14 | 65.70 |
| Rickelton | c Carey b Starc | 6 | 8 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Mulder | c Labuschagne b Starc | 27 | 50 | 5 | 54.00 |
| Bavuma (c) | c Carey b Cummins | 66 | 134 | 5 | 49.25 |
| Stubbs | b Starc | 8 | 43 | 0 | 18.60 |
| Bedingham | not out | 21 | 49 | 1 | 42.86 |
| Verreynne (wk) | not out | 4 | 13 | 0 | 30.77 |
| Extras | (8b, 4lb, 2nb) | 14 | — | — | — |
| Total | 83.4 overs | 282/5 | — | — | RR: 3.37 |
SA vs Australia Head-to-Head: The Bigger Picture
The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team timeline in Test cricket is one of the great rivalries of the modern era. Australia have historically dominated, but South Africa’s strength has grown considerably.
| Format | SA Wins | AUS Wins | Draws/NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 28 | 55 | 15 |
| ODI Cricket | 56 | 71 | 5 |
| T20 International | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| WTC Finals | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What’s fascinating about the South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team stats is how the gap is closing year by year. South Africa’s seam attack — Rabada, Jansen, Ngidi — is arguably the best in the world right now. And this WTC Final proved it.
Where to Watch South Africa vs Australia Highlights & Live Cricket
For anyone who wants to relive this South Africa vs Australia WTC Final — the full highlights are available on Sky Sports Cricket and the Sky Sports app. International streaming is available through Willow TV (North America) and various regional broadcasters.
For future fixtures and the complete South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team matches schedule, visit the official ICC website and Sky Sports Cricket — the most reliable sources for all test cricket South Africa vs Australia scheduling and live coverage details.
For the official ball-by-ball South Africa vs Australia WTC Final scorecard, the full data is available at Sky Sports Cricket Scorecard.
Expert Opinion: What the WTC Final Tells Us About These Teams
Here’s our editorial team’s honest read of what this South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match means going forward:
1. South Africa’s pace attack is the best in Test cricket right now. Rabada, Jansen, Ngidi, and Mulder — four quality seamers who can all do damage on any surface. No team in the world has this depth in seam bowling right now.
2. Australia’s batting needs a serious rethink. Smith’s 66 in the first innings aside, the batting lineup crumbled under pressure twice. Khawaja, Green, Head — none produced their best. Starc’s defiant 58* as a number nine should have been a wake-up call.
3. Markram is now in the conversation for South Africa’s greatest-ever Test match performer. His 136 under those conditions is the stuff of legend. Period.
4. The WTC format is producing iconic cricket. The South Africa vs Australia WTC Final at Lord’s — with its swings of momentum, brilliant individual performances, and last-day tension — is exactly why the World Test Championship exists.
Conclusion
The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match scorecard from the WTC Final is not just a list of runs and wickets. It is a narrative of resilience, brilliance, and the unpredictable beauty of Test cricket.
South Africa were bowled out for 138. They trailed by 74. They needed 282 to win. And they did it — at Lord’s — against the reigning WTC champions.
Kagiso Rabada took 9 wickets across the match. Pat Cummins delivered a 6/28 spell for the ages. Aiden Markram played one of the greatest innings ever seen at Lord’s. And Mitchell Starc’s stubborn 58 not out in a losing cause will be remembered as a brave last stand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who won the South Africa vs Australia WTC Final?
South Africa won by 5 wickets — chasing 282 at Lord’s to claim their first-ever ICC World Test Championship title.
Q2. What was the full South Africa National Cricket Team vs Australian Men’s Cricket Team match scorecard?
Australia 1st: 212 all out. South Africa 1st: 138 all out. Australia 2nd: 207 all out. South Africa 2nd: 282/5. South Africa won by 5 wickets.
Q3. Who was the star of the South Africa vs Australia WTC Final?
Aiden Markram (136 in the run chase) and Kagiso Rabada (9 wickets in the match) were the standout performers for South Africa. Pat Cummins (6/28) was the best Australian performer despite being on the losing side.
Q4. What was the venue of the South Africa vs Australia WTC Final?
The match was played at Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London — the iconic home of cricket.
Q5. Where can I watch South Africa vs Australia highlights?
Full South Africa vs Australia WTC Final highlights are available on Sky Sports Cricket and the Sky Sports app. Streaming options include Willow TV and regional broadcast partners.
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