South Africa qualify for ICC World Test Championship final, beat Pakan 2 wickets to book Lord’s 2025 ticket | Cricket News

South Africa became the first team to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final of the 2023-25 cycle as they overcame Pakan two wickets in the first Test at Centurion on Sunday.
After crumbling to 99 for eight in a 148-run chase after Pakan seamer Mohammad Abbas’ six-wicket burst, South Africa held their nerve with an unbeaten 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket 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 next year, 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 Pakan’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
Pakan (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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