South Africa Seal WTC Final Berth with Thrilling Win Against Pakistan

Centurion, South Africa: In a gripping finale to the Pakistan vs South Africa Test match, South Africa clinched their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final to be held at Lord's in June 2025. The nail-biting victory by two wickets in Centurion secured South Africa's place in the WTC final 2025, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Coming into Day 4, South Africa required 121 runs to win and were in a comfortable position at 96 for 4. However, Mohammad Abbas, who picked up career-best figures of 6-54 and bowled 15.3 overs continuously from one end, had other ideas. A mini collapse saw the hosts stumble to 99 for 8, but an unbeaten 51-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen sealed the victory for South Africa.

South Africa Seal WTC Final Berth with Thrilling Win Against Pakistan

With 121 runs needed for victory, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma started cautiously, playing the balls on merit and avoiding risky shots. They drove the ball through the covers and Bavuma even pulled Abbas for a six, thanks to Naseem Shah stepping past the boundary line after taking the catch.

The game turned dramatically after the drinks break. Abbas was finally rewarded for his control as he castled Markram with a delivery that kept low and hit the off-stump. Bavuma and David Bedingham brought the equation down to 52 runs before Bavuma was strangely dismissed by Abbas. Bavuma missed a heave and was caught behind after the ball hit the pocket on his trousers. Strangely, the batter walked off without reviewing, which led to a massive collapse for the hosts as they fell from 96 for 4 to 99 for 8.

Naseem Shah came through in the next over to get Kyle Verreyne to chop on to his stumps before Abbas dismissed Bedingham and Corbin Bosch off consecutive deliveries. It was a terrific spell from Abbas, who bowled relentlessly from the start of Day 4 to the very end of play.

Jansen and Rabada did not prod their bat outside the off-stump unlike their predecessors. They left balls not in line with the stumps and pounced on the loose balls offered by Abbas and Naseem, taking the hosts to Lunch without any further harm at 116 for 8.

It took 5.3 overs for South Africa to clinch the win after the break, but not before Rabada survived a nick off Abbas which didn't carry to Rizwan behind the stumps. Understanding that Abbas was beating the bat constantly, the two batters targeted the bowlers from the other end.

Rabada was timing the ball perfectly and clubbed Naseem over cover for a boundary before Jansen brought down the equation to 15 with a square cut off Abbas. The crowd grew louder than ever. Pakistan then adopted a strange tactic of bringing Aamer Jamal into the attack, his first over of the innings, which proved to be costly for the visitors. Rabada smashed him for two fours in an 11-run over before Jansen sealed the deal with another square cut off Abbas to the fence.

Brief Scores

Pakistan: 211 & 237 (Saud Shakeel 66*, Babar Azam 50; Marco Jansen 5-42, Kagiso Rabada 2-68) South Africa: 301 & 150/8 (Temba Bavuma 40, Aiden Markram 37; Mohammad Abbas 6-54, Naseem Shah 1-34)

South Africa won by two wickets.

WTC Points Table and Standings

With this victory, South Africa has secured a crucial spot in the WTC final 2025. The WTC points table now reflects South Africa's dominant performance, pushing them to the top of the WTC standings. The ICC Test Championship points table 2024 shows South Africa leading with a significant margin, making them a strong contender for the WTC final scenario.

Where to Watch Pakistan vs South Africa

Fans eager to watch the Pakistan national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team can tune into various live streaming platforms. The SA vs PAK live streaming is available on multiple sports channels and online platforms. For those wondering where to watch South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team, options include official broadcasters and digital streaming services.

WTC Final Scenarios

The WTC final scenarios are now clearer with South Africa's win. The test championship points table 2024 shows that South Africa has a comfortable lead, making their qualification for the WTC final almost certain. The world test championship points table highlights the performance of each team, with South Africa standing out as a top performer.

India's WTC Scenario

For India to qualify for the WTC final, they need to perform exceptionally well in their remaining matches. The India WTC scenario depends on their upcoming test matches and the performance of other teams in the ICC world test championship. India's qualification for the WTC final will be determined by their ability to secure maximum points in the remaining matches.

Conclusion

The Pakistan vs South Africa test match was a thrilling encounter that showcased the best of test cricket. With South Africa securing their spot in the WTC final 2025, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the World Test Championship. Fans can look forward to more intense matches as teams battle it out for a place in the WTC final.