Witnessing Kyle Verreynne smash a shot past the covers and confirming that the ICC Test Mace would come to the Rainbow Nation was a relief from decades of pain and the realization of a dream that many people had held but had not yet realized.

Following decades of falling agonisingly short of success, South African cricket sits on the cusp of a first major triumph with 69 runs needed to win the World Test Championship at Lord’s on Saturday.