Sport

South Africa crowned World Test Champions after historic win over Australia

Published

4 weeks ago

June 14, 2025

South Africa have clinched their first ICC title in 27 years, beating Australia to win the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2025.

Aiden Markram slammed a memorable century, and captain Temba Bavuma fought through injury to score a combined 102 runs in the match, as SA chased down a daunting target of 282 on Day 4.

It is the first WTC title for the Proteas. Kagiso Rabada starred with the ball, taking nine wickets in the match.

Chasing 282 for victory, South Africa reached their target with 282 for 5 just before lunch on Day 4. Markram was dismissed for a brilliant 136, only six runs shy of the finish line, but by then, the job was all but done.

This victory marks South Africa’s first-ever major ICC trophy win, finally putting to rest a history of heartbreaks. In 18 previous attempts across the ODI and T20 World Cups, the Proteas had only reached one final—last year’s T20 World Cup in Barbados, where they suffered a crushing defeat to India despite needing just 30 runs off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand.

But at Lord’s, they held their nerve. Resuming Day 4 on 213 for 2, with Markram already having reached three figures the day before, South Africa calmly completed the chase to etch their name in cricketing history.

Match Summary

Australia 1st Innings: 212 (B. Webster 72, S. Smith 66; K. Rabada 5–51, M. Jansen 3–49)

South Africa 1st Innings: 138 (D. Bedingham 45; P. Cummins 6–28)

Australia 2nd Innings: 207 (M. Starc 58*; K. Rabada 4–59, L. Ngidi 3–38)

South Africa 2nd Innings: 282–5 (A. Markram 136, T. Bavuma 66; M. Starc 3–66)

It’s worth noting that Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) broadcast this thrilling match live and exclusively for fans across Afghanistan, allowing cricket lovers in the country to witness history unfold.

Related Topics:#SouthAfrica ArianaNews Australia featured final TestChampionship

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AFPL: Perozi Panjshir thrash Zaitoon 7–0; Sadaqat beat Omid 6–3

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Italy qualify for T20 World Cup for first time

Published

2 days ago

July 12, 2025

Ariana News

Italy may have fumbled their way out of the last two soccer World Cup qualifying campaigns but their cricket counterparts smashed their way into uncharted territory by booking a maiden Twenty20 World Cup berth on Friday.

The cricketing minnows sealed qualification for the first time ever, sneaking through the European qualifiers despite losing their final match against the Netherlands in a result that suited both teams perfectly, Reuters reported.

Italy needed only to avoid a heavy defeat to secure their historic spot thanks to a superior net run rate and that is exactly what unfolded.

Setting a modest target of 135 for victory, they watched the Dutch cruise home in 16.2 overs, a margin narrow enough to send both teams through to the 2026 tournament.

Scotland, veterans of six previous T20 World Cup editions, were the big losers, failing to secure their spot for the 20-team tournament, losing to Jersey who chased down 134 in a last-ball victory. But Scotland also needed Italy to win.

The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with five additional qualification spots still up for grabs from Africa and the Asia-East Asian Pacific regions.

TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR 2026 T20 WORLD CUP

Sri Lanka (co-hosts), India (co-hosts), Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States, West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy.