Delhi: The final match of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 has reached a thrilling turn. South Africa has a golden opportunity to create history, but for this the Temba Bavuma -led team will have to achieve the target of 282 runs given by Australia at Lord’s ground. If the protiaz is successful in chasing this score, they will capture an ICC Trophy for the first time since 1998.
How difficult chasing the target in Lord’s?
Chasing 282 runs in the fourth innings on the historic ground of Lord’s is nothing short of crossing a mountain. So far, in Test history, only four times on this ground, more than 200 runs have been successfully followed.
The biggest run chase record on this ground is the name of the West Indies, who chased 344 runs against England in 1984. The subsequent three major successful run chase all have been scored against New Zealand – 289 runs (2004), 272 runs (2022) and 218 runs (1965).
What will history be able to create?
Even more than 100 runs on Lord’s are considered difficult. In the 147 Tests played so far on this historic ground, only 20 times a team has managed to chase more than 100 runs in the fourth innings. In such a situation, South Africa not only has a big goal of 282 runs, but they have also got a chance to immortalize themselves in the pages of history.
If the protagors are able to do this feat, then not only will they become the WTC champion, but will also create a new record of the second biggest successful run chase in Lord’s. Now it will be interesting to see if South Africa will be able to overcome this historical challenge or the trophy will once again slip from their hand.
