Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey
South Africa have sealed qualification to the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final after a thrilling, memorable two-wicket win over Pakistan in Centurion. It all looked to be going pearshaped for the hosts as they lost 4/3 to be reduced to 99/8 chasing 148, but Kagiso Rabada (31*) and Marco Jansen (16*) were outstanding under pressure.
Rabada in particular was magnificent. His strokeplay with the stakes so high was reflective of the star he is. He took Pakistan’s seamers on down the ground, and had the class as well including a magnificent cover drive to bring the target down to four runs.
Earlier, Aiden Markram (37) and Temba Bavuma (40) put on 43 runs together after the hosts fell to 19/3. Another 34-run stand between Bavuma and David Bedingham put South Africa in the driving seat. However, a mini-collapse, triggered by the returning Mohammad Abbas and Bavuma’s non-review, put Pakistan on top.
Abbas was superb on his return. Playing his first Test since 2021, Abbas utilised the conditions perfectly. He finished with 6/54 in 19.3 overs, but unfortunately ended up on the losing team.
Pakistan played well. They had their moments. Things were looking good on day three when Babar Azam (50) and Saud Shakeel (84) put on a 69-run stand that had Pakistan effectively 63/3 on a helplful pitch. However, they lost wickets regularly to give South Africa a target of 148, which they may think they should have ended up defending in the end.
Reactions: South Africa qualify for WTC Final in thrilling circumstances
It’s never straightforward with South Africa is it? Needing one win from the two Tests against Pakistan to qualify for the WTC Final, getting the victory in Centurion was so important to avoid the anxiety of a second Test needing a win. No fingernails were left as they got home.
“We going to Lord’s”, posted former South Africa captain Graeme Smith on X as WTC qualification was sealed. “T20 World Cup Final and now the WTC Final. We are getting there, step by exciting step,” wrote AB de Villiers.
Here are some of the other reactions to a thrilling Test.
South Africa now wait to see who will join them in the final at Lord’s. Australia and India are fighting it out in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, with the Australians also travelling to Sri Lanka for two Tests in January.
