South Africa secured a historic two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series, earning their first-ever place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.
In a thrilling Centurion Test, South Africa displayed resilience in both batting and bowling, overcoming early challenges to claim a 1-0 series lead. This victory was crucial for the Proteas, who needed just one win to cement their spot in the WTC final.
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Leading the WTC standings with a 66.67% win rate, South Africa had already defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 at home. Across 11 matches, they achieved seven wins, recovering from setbacks like a drawn series against India and a whitewash by New Zealand.
The Proteas’ consistent performance, including triumphs over West Indies, Bangladesh, and top teams like Australia and India, solidified their path to the final. Meanwhile, the competition for the second WTC final berth remains tight among Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
