South Africa booked their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test of their two-match series. The Proteas chased down a tricky 148-run target on Day 4, securing a two-wicket victory in Centurion. This win cemented their top position in the WTC standings, with 66.67 percentage points from seven wins in 11 matches.
One of Australia or India will join South Africa in the final, as the race between the two intensifies.
A Nervy Chase Under Pressure
Resuming on a precarious overnight score of 27/3, South Africa faced early jitters. Aiden Markram fell for 15, and skipper Temba Bavuma’s composed 40 ended with an ill-judged shot off Mohammad Abbas. At 80/5, Pakistan sniffed an upset.
But Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada had other plans. Jansen struck the winning runs, staying unbeaten on 16, while Rabada’s gritty 31 not out kept the innings alive. The lower-order duo ensured South Africa crossed the finish line in dramatic fashion.
Pakistan’s Spirited Fight
Pakistan had their moments, especially when Mohammad Abbas made a dream return to Test cricket. He trapped Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs lbw in quick succession. Ryan Rickelton’s duck, courtesy of Khurram Shahzad’s sharp review, added to the Proteas’ troubles.
Earlier in their innings, Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50) gave Pakistan hope. The pair’s aggressive 79-run partnership put pressure on South Africa’s bowlers. However, Jansen’s three-wicket burst, including the key wicket of Babar, turned the tide.
Shakeel’s calm knock ended with an lbw dismissal to a Jansen full toss, and Pakistan’s innings folded at 136. Debutant Corbin Bosch capped his memorable outing with a five-wicket match haul, cleaning up Pakistan’s tail.
What’s Next in the WTC Race?
With this win, South Africa sit firmly atop the WTC standings. Meanwhile, India’s hopes of a third consecutive final appearance hang by a thread after a 0-3 home loss to New Zealand and a defeat to Australia in Adelaide.
The updated standings show South Africa at 66.67 percentage points, followed by Australia (58.89) and India (55.88). As the competition heats up, cricket fans eagerly await the final matchups in this thrilling WTC cycle.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
