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LONDON: South Africa wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne shared his overwhelming sense of relief after guiding his team to victory against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final here at Lord’s on Saturday.
Chasing 282 to win the 2025 final against Australia at Lord’s, South Africa began Day 4 at 213/2, needing 69 more runs with Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma at the crease.
Cummins struck early to dismiss Bavuma for 66, and Starc removed Stubbs soon after to inject a twist.
But Markram, already on a hundred, calmly steered the chase with David Bedingham, adding 35 for the fifth wicket before falling just six runs short of the target for a magnificent 136 off 207 balls.
Kyle Verreynne came out to bat with South Africa needing six runs to make history and end their 27-year ICC title drought.
He admitted that he felt overwhelmed with nerves before stepping onto the field, but ultimately delivered the most memorable performance of his career.
“I was watching in the morning and kept thinking, I don’t want to bat, I don’t want to bat. When I walked in the middle, I was the most nervous I have ever been,” Verreynne said after sealing the win.
He scored four of the required runs, including the winning single that secured South Africa’s first World Test Championship (WTC) title.
“Means a lot. You can listen to the whole ground singing. Probably getting a little emotional now. It’s incredible,” he added, visibly emotional after his side’s historic win.
READ: Aiden Markram’s 136 steers South Africa to historic victory in WTC Final
