'Unfortunately, it was a bridge too far': Australia skipper Pat Cummins rues loss; South African clinch WTC title

NEW DELHI: South Africa defeated reigning champions Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Saturday, successfully chasing down a target of 282 before lunch on the fourth day. Aiden Markram's superb 136 and captain Temba Bavuma's 66 led South Africa to victory, while Australia's captain Pat Cummins acknowledged his team fell short despite being favoured to win against a South African side with fewer star players.

Australia initially held a 74-run lead after the first innings, but couldn't maintain their advantage as South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada delivered an impressive performance with match figures of 9-110.

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"Things can change pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it was a bridge too far," said Cummins at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Steve Smith's first-innings score of 66 stood as the only half-century or better by an Australian specialist batsman in the match. Smith's participation in the upcoming first Test against the West Indies in Barbados on June 25 is now uncertain due to a dislocated finger sustained while dropping a slip catch.

"We've got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so we'll sit down and have a bit of a think," said Cummins.


"To make these finals, it's normally off the back of being really strong at home, but you've got to win some away series too," he later added at a post-match press conference. "So, in some ways, it's good we get to dust ourselves off and turn around in a couple of weeks and start looking ahead to the next one. That's one of the good things about the World Test Championship, every Test series and every Test match feels like you're playing for something significant."

South Africa's successful run chase marked the second-highest at Lord's in Test history, behind only the West Indies' 344-1 against England in 1984.

"They (South Africa) were fantastic in that fourth innings. There wasn't a lot in the wicket but they didn't give us a chance," said Cummins.



The match concluded the third edition of the World Test Championship, following New Zealand's victory in 2021 and Australia's triumph in 2023, with India finishing as runners-up in both instances.

The championship's format has faced criticism due to countries having the freedom to determine their Test match participation during the two-year qualifying cycle. South Africa played just 12 Tests in the recent cycle, without facing England or Australia, while Australia reached the final after winning 13 out of 19 matches.

"They showed why they're in this final and are deserved champions," Cummins said of South Africa.

Regarding the format, Cummins jokingly remarked, "I preferred it at the Oval last time," before adding more seriously, "It's something you build towards for two years, it's a huge achievement to make the final, and then a one-game shootout, I think it's a fantastic spectacle."

Australia may need to reassess their batting lineup as they begin a new World Test Championship cycle, particularly considering Marnus Labuschagne's struggles, who averaged only 25.63 in Tests during the 2024/25 season and scored just 17 and 22 at Lord's after being promoted to opener.