South Africa are staring at a daunting target to end their ICC title drought during the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final against Australia at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.
After the first two days of the final witnessed 28 wickets, Australia extended their lead in the second essay past 250 with No. 9 Mitchell Starc put on a sturdy effort alongside Josh Hazlewood, setting South Africa a stiff challenge nevertheless. Only thrice has a 250-plus score been chased down successfully in a Test match at the London venue.
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South Africa will inevitably need to make their highest Test chase at Lord’s to clinch the WTC title, with West Indies’ stunning 342-run chase, courtesy an epic double century from Gordon Greenidge against England in 1984, still topping the charts. The next three 200-plus chases have all involved the traditional hosts of the venue and New Zealand, with the Englishmen coming up trumps on all three occasions in 1965, 2004 and 2022.
The latest instance in 2022 marked the arrival of the ‘Bazball’ era in England cricket as the home side gunned down a 277-run target in 78.5 overs in Ben Stokes’ first Test in charge of the side.
Highest 4th innings Test totals in wins at Lord’s:
- 344/1 by West Indies v ENG, 1984
- 282/3 by England v NZ, 2004
- 279/5 by England v NZ, 2022
- 218/3 by England v NZ, 1965
South Africa’s record pursuit
That leaves some inspiration for South Africa to put on a charge, but something they have not quite achieved before at the ground, where a comfortable 10-wicket win in a 15-run chase remains their best! South Africa’s highest Test chase in England remains the 283/5 effort in 2008 at Edgbaston.
South Africa can, however, seek inspiration from their past efforts against Australia, including a record 418-run chase in Perth in 2008, the second-highest of all time and the best against the Aussies. Interestingly, SA’s next best Test chases have also come against Australia in 2002 and 1952 at Kingsmead and Melbourne, respectively.
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Opting to bowl first in the Test, the Proteas dismissed Australia for 212 after stern resistance in the form of Steve Smith and Beau Webster’s half-centuries. South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada became only the second man to have his name in both the home and away Honours Boards at Lord’s with his five-wicket haul. However, Pat Cummins’ stellar six-wicket haul stubbed South Africa’s response, with the Australian captain notching up his 300th Test wicket.
South Africa’s highest Test chases
| Target | Scored | Versus | Ground | Result |
| 414 | 414/4 | Australia | WACA Ground | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| 335 | 340/5 | Australia | Kingsmead | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| 295 | 297/4 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| 284 | 287/9 | England | Old Wanderers | South Africa won by 1 wicket |