South Africa made history on Sunday, becoming the first team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the 2023-25 cycle. The team secured this milestone with a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test match at Centurion.

The Boxing Day Test proved to be a gripping encounter, with the hosts chasing a modest target of 148 runs but facing immense pressure at 99 for eight. However, a game-changing partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen brought South Africa back from the brink of defeat. The duo’s unbeaten ninth-wicket stand steered the team to a memorable victory, showcasing resilience and determination.

A Match Filled With Drama

Resuming the day on 27/3, South Africa faced a challenging task as their middle order crumbled under the relentless bowling attack of Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas. Abbas, marking a sensational return to Test cricket, claimed six wickets in a devastating spell that left South Africa reeling at 116/8 by the lunch interval.

Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s captain, showed resistance with a top score of 40, but wickets fell at regular intervals. The turning point came when Jansen and Rabada joined forces. Their composed partnership not only secured victory but also solidified South Africa’s place at the top of the WTC standings with 88 points and a points percentage (PCT) of 66.67.

This victory leaves South Africa ahead of Australia and India in the standings, adding to the excitement of the WTC 2023-25 cycle.

Pakistan’s Efforts Fall Short

Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Mohammad Abbas, gave their all, with Abbas delivering a spell to remember. His six-wicket haul, combined with contributions from Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad, kept the visitors in contention until the final moments. However, their efforts were not enough to secure a win in this thrilling contest.

With this defeat, Pakistan missed an opportunity to climb the WTC standings, while South Africa celebrated a remarkable achievement that sets the stage for an exciting WTC final.