South Africa has successfully sealed a 2-0 series victory over Pakistan in the ongoing Test series, topping the World Test Championship (WTC) table. This remarkable achievement has solidified their place at the forefront of the Test cricket world, as they head into the WTC final against Australia with immense confidence. After an intense battle over four days, South Africa’s dominance in the second Test was marked by their strong first-innings performance and a resilient chase in the final session. Despite Pakistan’s spirited fightback, the Proteas proved too strong, ensuring they ended the series in commanding fashion.
South Africa Clinch 2-0 Series Victory Over Pakistan
South Africa entered the second Test against Pakistan with a dominant position, having already won the first Test in the series. Pakistan, trailing by a massive 421 runs after their first innings, showed much more resistance in their second innings, managing to set a target of just 58 for the Proteas to chase on the final day.
However, South Africa made light work of this target. Former Durham batter David Bedingham, promoted to number four in the batting order, smashed a quick-fire 44 runs off just 30 balls to guide South Africa home. The chase was completed easily, and the victory was a fitting end to a series that saw the Proteas play exceptional cricket from start to finish.
The victory was built on an outstanding first-innings total of 615 all out, with opener Ryan Rickelton playing a pivotal role in setting up the win. Rickelton scored an impressive 259, dominating Pakistan’s bowlers and putting South Africa in the driving seat.
In Pakistan’s first innings, they were bowled out for just 194, with Kagiso Rabada (3-115) and Keshav Maharaj (3-137) leading the way with the ball. Despite a resilient 145 from Shan Masood in Pakistan’s second innings, South Africa’s bowlers broke through at key moments, restricting Pakistan’s progress. Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Aamer Jamal all contributed lower-order runs, but they were not enough to stave off South Africa’s relentless attack.
South Africa’s Victory Propels Them to Top of the WTC Standings
With this victory over Pakistan, South Africa topped the World Test Championship standings for the two-year cycle, guaranteeing their place in the WTC final in June. This has been a historic achievement for South African cricket, as they head into the final against Australia, who will meet them at Lord’s from June 11-15, 2025. The WTC final will be a crucial test of South Africa’s abilities, as they face one of the most formidable cricketing nations in the world.
South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, expressed excitement about the upcoming challenge, acknowledging that facing Australia will not be easy. However, Bavuma emphasized that the Proteas would take the time to savor their success in topping the WTC table before focusing on the final: “It’s not going to be a mean feat [to beat Australia] but we will enjoy this moment and celebrate and deal with it closer to the time.”
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada echoed Bavuma’s sentiments, expressing confidence that South Africa has the firepower to challenge Australia: “South Africa against Australia has always been an intense rivalry because we play cricket quite similarly – we play hard. They’re going to come hard, we know that, but we also know how to beat them.” This rivalry promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams boasting world-class players and a history of closely contested matches.
Pakistan Series Loss: A Tough Pill to Swallow for the Visitors
Despite South Africa’s impressive performance, the Pakistan series loss will undoubtedly sting for the visiting team. Pakistan had entered the series with hope, looking to challenge South Africa’s dominance in their own backyard. However, the series ultimately revealed the gaps in Pakistan’s play, especially when it came to facing top-quality fast bowling and the resilience needed to chase down large targets.
After being bowled out for a mere 194 in the first innings of the second Test, Pakistan found themselves on the back foot right from the start. Although Shan Masood’s 145 in the second innings gave the visitors something to hold onto, it wasn’t enough to overhaul the deficit. The team’s inability to capitalize on their chances and their struggles against South Africa’s well-drilled bowling attack contributed to their eventual downfall in the series.
Even when Pakistan managed to put up a better fight in their second innings, setting South Africa a modest target, the Proteas made quick work of it, completing the chase in style. This series loss will be a significant learning experience for Pakistan as they look to improve in their upcoming matches.
South Africa’s Unbeaten Run: A Record of Consistency
One of the key highlights of South Africa’s success in this series has been their incredible run of form in red-ball cricket. The Proteas have been unbeaten since their defeat to India in Cape Town 12 months ago. This 12-month unbeaten streak has seen them defeat several high-profile teams, including New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and now Pakistan. This run of success has showcased the team’s growing confidence and consistency in Test cricket.
South Africa’s ability to win series consistently in all conditions is a testament to their strength as a Test-playing nation. With a combination of experienced players like Rabada and Bavuma and emerging stars like Rickelton, the Proteas have developed a well-rounded team capable of competing at the highest level.
However, the most recent series loss to Australia in January 2023 serves as a reminder that South Africa will need to be at their very best to lift the WTC trophy. Their historic unbeaten run will be put to the test when they face Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s.
Criticism of South Africa’s Qualification for the WTC Final
| Position | Team | Points | % Points Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 100 | 69.44% |
| 2 | Australia (Q) | 130 | 63.73% |
| 3 | India | 114 | 50.00% |
| 4 | New Zealand | 81 | 48.21% |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 60 | 45.45% |
| 6 | England | 114 | 43.18% |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 45 | 31.25% |
| 8 | Pakistan | 40 | 27.78% |
| 9 | West Indies | 32 | 24.24% |
While South Africa’s achievements have been lauded by many, there has been criticism of their qualification for the World Test Championship final. Former England captain Michael Vaughan was vocal in his criticism, stating that South Africa reached the final “on the back of beating pretty much nobody.”
These comments were quickly rejected by Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, who defended the quality of the opposition South Africa had faced in the cycle. Conrad pointed out that some of the teams South Africa had beaten, such as New Zealand and the West Indies, had themselves achieved notable wins in recent years. “One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia – West Indies beat Australia in a Test match. They are not nobody,” Conrad said. He also pointed to New Zealand’s series win against India and Sri Lanka’s victories over England and New Zealand as evidence that South Africa had faced formidable opposition throughout the cycle.
Conrad’s response emphasized the importance of qualification for the final and the hard work South Africa had put in over the course of the two-year cycle. “It’s the biggest thing in this team’s existence,” he added, underscoring the value of reaching the WTC final.
Looking Ahead: Pakistan’s Next Assignment
For Pakistan, the loss in this series will be a tough one to swallow, but it is also an opportunity for growth. Their next assignment will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, beginning on January 17, 2025. This will be an important series for Pakistan as they look to regroup and improve their performance following the loss to South Africa.
With a young team and a growing pool of talent, Pakistan will aim to bounce back from this setback and put up a strong performance at home. The team will be looking to build on their strengths and address the areas where they fell short in the Pakistan series loss.
| Opponent | Venue | Series Result |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | Home | W 2-0 |
| India | Home | D 1-1 |
| New Zealand | Away | W 2-0 |
| West Indies | Away | W 1-0 |
| Bangladesh | Away | W 2-0 |
| Sri Lanka | Home | W 2-0 |
| Pakistan | Home | W 2-0 |
Conclusion: South Africa’s Historic Achievement and Pakistan’s Road to Recovery
South Africa’s 2-0 series victory over Pakistan and their subsequent rise to the top of the World Test Championship table is a significant milestone in the country’s cricketing history. With the WTC final against Australia fast approaching, the Proteas are well-positioned to challenge for the title. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s series loss serves as a reminder that even the strongest teams have room for improvement, and the road ahead will require hard work and determination. Both teams will continue to learn from this series, with South Africa looking forward to the challenge of the WTC final and Pakistan aiming to bounce back in their upcoming series.
