South Africa became the first team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 final on Sunday. (AP)
South Africa became the first team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final of the 2023-25 cycle as they overcame Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test at Centurion on Sunday.
After slipping to 99 for eight in a 148-run chase, the hosts were steered home by an admirable unbeaten ninth-wicket partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
The win elevated the Proteas to 88 points from 11 games this cycle, boosting their points percentage (PCT) to 66.67 ahead of Australia (58.89) and India (55.89), who are currently locked 1-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With South Africa booking the ticket to the final, to be held at Lord’s between June 11-15, 2025, only India and Australia remain in contention to book the other vacant spot. South Africa are the fourth team to make the WTC final after India (2021 and 2023), defending champions Australia (2023) and inaugural winners New Zealand (2021).
South Africa’s WTC 2023-25 campaign began with a 1-1 home series draw against India before suffering a 0-2 defeat to New Zealand away in February this year. Temba Bavuma’s men then won successive series in West Indies and Bangladesh before trouncing Sri Lanka 2-0 at home earlier this month.
The defeat was also Pakistan’s seventh in this cycle across 11 matches, pushing them down below Bangladesh to the eighth spot in the WTC standings. The final Test for both sides will be played from January 3 in Cape Town.
ICC World Test Championship Points Table updated as of December 29, 2024
|
Pos. |
Team |
Matches |
Points Played |
Points |
PCT |
|||
| P | W | L | D | |||||
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 132 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2 | Australia | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 180 | 102 | 58.89 |
| 3 | India | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 204 | 110 | 57.29 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 168 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 132 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 264 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7 | Bangladesh (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 144 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | Pakistan (E) | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 132 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9 | West Indies (E) | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 132 | 32 | 24.24 |
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