WTC 2025: South Africa Secures Final Spot with Thrilling Win Over Pakistan

WTC 2025: South Africa beat Pakistan in the first of the two-match Test series. This win ensured South Africa's place in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. They brought down 148 runs which seemed not much keeping in mind the eventful Fourth day and winning by two wickets accounts in the match for the Proteas.

In addition, this win brought the top place to South Africa on the WTC table. They now have a topsy-turvy 66.67 percentage points after seven matches, winning at least 11 matches out of total 11 played. They will then face either Australia or India in the third WTC final.

???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????

South Africa are headed to Lord's for the #WTC25 Final ???? #SAvPAK ➡ https://t.co/vWLh4MSQjm pic.twitter.com/sZ5QBnDAYD

— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2024

Also Read: Bank Staff Among 4 Arrested for Siphoning ₹12.2 Crore from CRED Operator Firm: Report

India, who have featured in both of the previous finals, will now have to rally well to secure a spot in a third consecutive ICC title match, having first kissed the dust with a 0-3 defeat at home to New Zealand and followed that up with a loss in the day-night Test against arch rivals Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

The middle of the night in Centurion, South Africa, saw Aiden Markram being the first casualty, being added 15 runs to his score, starting from an overnight precarious 27/3. Skipper Temba Bavuma struck 40 runs before falling to Mohammad Abbas, who was nothing short of a nothing shot that rekindled Pakistan's hopes.

But it was Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada who put the hopes of a stellar performance at the bottom of a pyramid.

Jansen hit the winning runs and ended with 16 not out while Rabada stood tall on 31 not out.

Jansen’s six-for sealing Saturday caused South Africa to conquer a relatively simple, albeit difficult, target of 148 runs in the chase. At stumps, South Africa lurched to 27/3 with the Pakistan seamers creating possibility of shock result.

Mohammad Abbas finally trapped Tony de Zorzi (2) and Tristan Stubbs (1) in lbw: the first two during the last session after more than 3 years in the longest format.

Also Read: Bengaluru Techie Loses ₹1.3 Crore in Online Trading Scam via Telegram Group

In between, Khurram Shahzad made captain interesting Shan Masood to afford a successful review against Ryan Rickelton, who left for a duck after five balls.

The half-centuries during the Pakistan innings were scored by Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50), but Jansen's three wickets in four overs really spoiled the party as the team lost their latters in seven runs, losing the first three for 88 and resuming on the way to 84.

Aggressive batting in an 79-run partnership dominated the pace trio of Kagiso Rabada (2-68), Corbin Bosch (1-54) and Dane Paterson (1-55).

Babar looked well-set, but soon after bringing up his first Test half-century in 20 innings, he slashed Jansen's short ball straight to Bosch at deep backward point.

Mohammad Rizwan (3) and Salman Ali Agha (1) also perished to poor shots. The former gloved a leg-side wayward delivery from Jansen to the wicketkeeper and Salman caught behind after trying to play an expansive drive to the third ball he faced.

Shakeel showed a lot of patience as he has taken Pakistan's lead to 136 before the lbw missed a full toss delivery from Jansen and was hit.

Pakistan were finally bowled out at last as the debutant Bosch completed his fifth wicket of the match in the last session.

Also Read: South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test Day 4: Proteas Edge Thriller to Qualify for WTC Final 2025