South Africa clinch the World Test Championship final; break ICC trophy jinx after 27 years

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South Africa have broken the jinx. The team finally has an ICC trophy after 27 years - only their second ICC title - after beating Australia by five wickets on Saturday at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground to become become World Test champions.

Chasing 282 runs to win, Aiden Markram registered his eighth Test century and played one of the most important knocks of his career with 136 runs to guide the Proteas to a historic win. Temba Bavuma, who played with an injured hamstring, played a captain's knock of 66 runs. The two stitched a 147 runs off 250 balls for the third wicket to put South Africa in a dominant position after having played catch-up for most of the first three days.

At the start of Day 4, South Africa needed 69 runs to win with eight wickets in hand. They however, lost their skipper early in the day as counterpart Pat Cummins found Bavuma's edge. Tristan Stubbs fell with 42 runs needed to win and Australia could sniff a comeback.

However, David Bedingham and Markram ensured only six runs were needed by the time another wicket fell. Kyle Verreyenne scored the winning runs, providing the Proteas with their first ICC triumph since the 1998 Knockout Trophy.

The much anticipated World Test Championship final began on June 11 with South Africa winning the toss and opting to bowl first.

Australia were put under early pressure as Kagiso Rabada struck twice in the first spell. The defending champions were further reduced to 67/4 before Steve Smith and Beau Webster joined hands to stitch an important partnership.

The two batters got to their half centuries in difficult batting conditions before Markram dismissed Smith against the run of the play. Rabada was back to clear the tail and picked up his second five-wicket haul at Lord's as Australia lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs to be bowled out for 212.

The action on Day 1 continued as Pat Cummins ran through the South African top order as the Proteas were reduced to 43/4 at stumps.

The Day 2 saw bowlers dominate again as South Africa were bowled out for just 138 runs, conceding a 74-run lead. Pat Cummins got his name on the Lord's honours' board with five wickets. Bedingham top scored for the Proteas with 45 runs.

Australia were in trouble in the second innings as Rabada and Lungi Ndgidi ran through the top and the middle order to reduce the opponents to 73/7 and later 132/8. However, on Day 3, Mitchell Starc and last man Josh Hazlewood added 59 crucial runs. Starc even registered a half century and remained unbeaten on 58.

Rabada took four more wickets to end with nine wickets in the match, while Ngidi got three Australian batters.

South Africa was in early trouble yet again, having lost opener Ryan Rickelton in the third over. However, it was Markram and Bavuma who soaked the pressure and gave South Africa a stunning win in a record chase.