South Africa booked their spot world test championship (WTC) reached the final after defeating Pakistan in the first match of the two-Test series. Chasing the seemingly modest target of 148 runs in exciting fashion, the Proteas won by two wickets on day four.
With this victory, the South African team consolidated their position at the top of the WTC standings, maintaining the lead with 66.67% points after seven wins in 11 games. Either Australia or India will be their opponent in the third WTC final.
India have reached the first two finals but lost 3-0 at home to New Zealand and then lost the day-night Test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval to set up their third consecutive title match The goal looks tough.
Latest World Test Championship Rankings
| No. | team | medium size | watt | L | time | D | does not exist / does not exist | PT | PCT |
| 1 | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2 | Australia | 15 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 58.89 |
| 3 | India | No. 17 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 55.88 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | No. 22 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 8 | Bengal | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9 | west indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 24.24 |
Aiden Markram, who started the match at Centurion in South Africa from a shaky start of 27/3 overnight, became the first man to fall after adding 15 runs to his score. Skipper Temba Bavuma’s 40 before losing for nothing to Mohammad Abbas once again reignited Pakistan’s hopes.
But these hopes were dashed Marco Jansen Kagiso Rabada has made outstanding contributions at the bottom of the pyramid.
Jansen is on a winning streak, unbeaten in 16 games, while Rabada is 31 not out.
Jansen’s six wickets helped South Africa reach a small but tricky target of 148 runs on Saturday. Going into stumps, South Africa were priced at 27/3, with Pakistan creating the possibility of a shock result.
Mohammad Abbas, returning to the longest format after more than three years, trapped Tony De Zorzi (2) and Tristan Stubbs (1) lbw in the final over.
During this period, Khurram Shahzad convinced captain Shan Masood to successfully take a stand with Ryan Rickton, who fell for a five-ball duck.
In the Pakistan innings, Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50) hit a half-century but Jansen’s three-wicket burst in four overs curtailed Pakistan’s progress, with the visitors conceding seven wickets for 84 after recovering at 88-3.
Shakir and Babar dominated Kagiso Rabada (2-68), Corbin Bose (1-54) and Dane Patterson with aggressive batting in a 79-run stand (1-55)’s speed trio.
Babar looked to be in good touch, but soon after completing his first Test half-century in the 20th over, he chipped Jansen’s short ball straight to Bose at back post.
Mohammad Rizwan (3) and Salman Ali Agha (1) also fell due to reckless shots. The former’s wayward leg-side pass from Jansen to the keeper was caught after Salman took a wide shot on the third ball he faced.
Shakir showed enough composure to extend Pakistan’s lead to 136, but he missed a full delivery from Jansen for 136lbs.
Pakistan were eventually bowled out in the final over, with debutant Bose taking his fifth wicket of the match.
