From the brink of collapse, South Africa turned the tables with a remarkable victory over Pakistan to secure their first-ever spot in the ICC World Test Championship final. Temba Bavuma’s team clinched a thrilling 2-wicket win in the Centurion Test.
In the third cycle of the World Test Championship, South Africa has played 11 matches, winning 7, losing 3, and drawing 1. They have 88 points with a win percentage of 66.67. Australia sits in second place with 106 points from 15 matches, including 9 wins and a win percentage of 58.89.
India is in third with 114 points from 17 matches, 9 wins, and a win percentage of 55.49. Both Australia and India are battling in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to secure the second spot in the final. One day remains in the fourth Test, with the series’ final match yet to be played.
On the fourth day of the Centurion Test, South Africa needed 121 runs, while Pakistan required 7 wickets. Returning to the Pakistan Test team after three and a half years, pacer Mohammad Abbas claimed 6 wickets and was on the verge of leading his team to victory. Chasing a target of 148 runs, South Africa found themselves at 99 for 8 at one point.
From there, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada staged a remarkable resistance. Jansen, with an unbeaten 16 runs, anchored the chase, while Rabada smashed 31 runs off 26 balls, including 5 fours. Their unbroken 51-run ninth-wicket partnership sealed the win for the hosts and secured their spot in the WTC final.
With the target near 150, South Africa was 49 runs away from victory when their eighth wicket fell. With only the tailenders left, Jansen and Rabada carried the team to a memorable win. While the last partnership stole the spotlight, Aiden Markram was named Player of the Match for his scores of 89 and 37 in the two innings.
At SuperSport Park, Pakistan was bowled out for 211 in the first innings. In reply, the hosts posted 301 runs, gaining a 90-run lead. Pakistan managed 237 runs in their second innings, setting a target of 148 for South Africa. The Proteas achieved the target on the fourth day itself, claiming victory in this dramatic match.
