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. The win elevated South Africa to 88
points from 11 games this cycle, boosting their points percentage (PCT) to 66.67 and ensured they are the first team to qualify for Finals. 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).
Chasing 148 for victory, the home side battled back from 19 for three and 99 for eight to edge over the line. On day 4, South Africa resumed their innings on 27/3, with Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma tasked with leading the chase of a modest target of 148. Once Markram and Bavuma fell it started to look tense. Naseem Shah joined the attack, dismissing wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne for just two runs. With the score at 90/6, Abbas was in full flow, claiming two more wickets in consecutive balls. David Bedingham fell for 14, and debutant Corbin Bosch was sent back for a duck, leaving South Africa in a precarious position at 99/8.
By the lunch interval, South Africa were reeling at 116/8, requiring 32 more runs to avoid defeat and Pakistan needed just two wickets. Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas nearly derailed South Africa’s plans with a sensational six-wicket haul (6/54) that had reduced them to 99/8 during their chase of the 148-run target at the SuperSport Park. Thanks to a scintillating, unbeaten 51-run ninth wicket partnership between Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada which ensured South Africa won the match by 2 wickets.
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 led South Africa then won successive series in West Indies and Bangladesh before trouncing Sri Lanka 2-0 at home. They then beat Pakistan 2-0 at home to qualify for the WTC Final. In the WTC Final they beat Australia to win the Title.
