 "South Africa qualify for WTC Final: How Proteas' thriling victory against Pakistan affects India and Australia's chances")
South Africa became the first team to confirm their place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final in Lord’s next year with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday. The Proteas needed to win just one game in their two-Test series against Pakistan to finish among the top two in the standings and thereby appear in the final of an ICC event for the second time in as many years.
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 the ninth-wicket pair of Kagiso Rabada (31 not out off 26 balls) and Marco Jansen (16 not out off 24 ballls) and their unconquered partnership that was worth 51 runs, Abbas’s heroics went in vain as South Africa collected their sixth Test victory on the trot and confirmed their ticket to London in June.
How does South Africa’s victory affect India and Australia’s chances?
The Temba Bavuma-led side had surged ahead of India and Australia, who currently are battling it out in a five-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, with a 1-0 victory in West Indies followed by back-to-back 2-0 sweeps against Bangladesh (away) and Sri Lanka (home).
South Africa’s latest victory, however, effectively makes the battle between India and Australia a direct shootout, or a virtual semi-final, although the latter will get another opportunity to improve their chances of securing a top-two finish when they travel to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Point deductions | Points | Points percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2 | Australia | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 106 | 58.89 |
| 3 | India | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 114 | 55.88 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 22 | 69 | 43.18 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9 | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 24.24 |
As far as India are concerned, they cannot afford to lose both the Melbourne and the Sydney Tests in the ongoing series in Australia if the are to make it to a third WTC final in as many editions. If they do lose at MCG , they will have to not only beat Australia at the SCG, but will also need Sri Lanka to win the Test series against Australia.
However, a draw for India in Melbourne followed by another in Sydney will leave the Indians needing Australia to lose to Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka by any possible margin. An Indian victory in Sydney, on the other hand, will boost their chances even further as Australia will then have to sweep the two-Test series to face South Africa in the summit clash at the ‘Home of Cricket".
Rabada, Jansen spoil Abbas’ party
Abbas had accounted for opener Tony de Zorzi (2) and Tristan Stubbs (1) while pace colleague Khurram Shahzad accounted for South African No 3 Ryan Rickelton (0) as the Proteas were reduced to 27/3 at stumps on Day 3. On Sunday, Abbas would dismiss skipper Temba Bavuma (40) as well as Aiden Markram (37), both of whom were fairly set and helped South Africa recover from their shaky start.
After Naseem Shah castled wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreyne, Abbas would strike twice in as many deliveries – getting both David Bedingham and Corbin Bosch caught-behind after enticing them into poking at balls outside off.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, here we come!🏏🏟️😃
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 29, 2024
The Proteas have secured their spot in the WTC Final next year, where we will face either Australia or India, as per the current rankings.🏆#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/FbB8LvtnJm
Both Rabada and Jansen are handy batters down the order and the former decided to take the fight back to the Shan Masood-led side by opening his account with a boundary. What also lifted their spirits was the partisan crowd at the venue that cheered for every run that they scored, helping transfer some of the pressure back on to the Pakistanis.
Rabada was happy to take the risks, going for a lofted shot occasionally to ensure the pressure remained on the opposition while Jansen focused on rotating the strike. However, it was Jansen who got the honour of scoring the winning boundary, incidentally off Abbas’ bowling.
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