'The national anthem rang out as we began to BELIEVE' - John Maytham relives Proteas' triumph at Lord's

CapeTalk's Sara-Jayne Makwala King catches up with Afternoon Drive host, John Maytham, in London.

South Africans at home and all over the world are on a high after our national cricket team won the World Test Championship at Lord's.

The Proteas seem to have finally put their 'choker' label to rest after recording a five-wicket victory over Australia in the final at London's famed 'Home of Cricket'.

Sara-Jayne Makwala King catches up with John Maytham who's been living it up in the British capital, experiencing both Beyoncé live in concert and the World Test Championship finals at the iconic cricket ground.

PICS: Inside ICC World Test Championship finals at Lord's with CapeTalk's John Maytham

The excitement of Lord's is reflected in the CapeTalk host's hoarse voice.

"You might hear from my throat that I've done a fair amount of cheering over the last four days!"

John Maytham, Afternoon Drive Host - CapeTalk

John Maytham was at Lord's to witness the Proteas' triumph

Maytham highlights the historic significance of the Proteas' triumph - they delivered the second highest run chase at Lord's in history!

"...to get 282 to win a test at Lord's is just unthinkable. So the South Africans were understandably nervous, but as the day progressed and the runs started to accumulate, the singing started: 'Oh Temba Ba-Vuma' ringing out across the stands, singing Shosholoza, the national anthem was being sung time and time again as we began to BELIEVE as Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma started to get us closer and closer..."

John Maytham, Afternoon Drive Host - CapeTalk

"For a long time there were nerves until I suppose it dropped to below 30 runs to win, allowing ourselves to start to believe... and then when that final run was hit , when Kyle Verreynne hit the four that gave us the World Test Championship, we ERUPTED..."

John Maytham, Afternoon Drive Host - CapeTalk

Maytham ascribes this incredible performance to the determination of the players.

It's a reminder of the accolades the Springboks won with their own Rugby World Cup triumph.

"There is a team spirit, a commitment to a cause, the melding of lots of different characters into an organism with one firm purpose, to prove people wrong. And I think that is probably what carried them through."

John Maytham, Afternoon Drive Host - CapeTalk

"The determination of Markram, of injured captain Bavuma who was basically on one hamstring but refused not to continue batting... It is that character, that refusal to give up the notion of victory even as at times historically, victory looked a long way away..."

John Maytham, Afternoon Drive Host - CapeTalk

Before returning to South Africa on Wednesday, Maytham is set to continue the celebrations with a visit to the Lake District.

To hear more from John Maytham, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article