South Africa closed its position at World Trials Championship (WTC) Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series. The Proteas chased down a tough target of 148 runs on Day 4, securing a two-wicket win in Centurion. This victory cemented their top spot in the WTC rankings, with 66.67 percentage points from seven wins in 11 matches.
One of Australia or India will feature in the final against South Africa as the race between the two intensifies.
A nervous chase under pressure
Continued with a precarious overnight score 27/3, South Africa faced early nerves. Aiden Markram fell for 15, and skipper Temba Bavuma’s 40 was ended by a misfire by Mohammad Abbas. At 80/5, Pakistan sniffed an upset.
But Marco Janssen and Kagiso Rabada had other plans. Jansen hit the winning runs, remaining unbeaten on 16, while Rabada’s knock of 31 kept the innings alive. The lower order duo ensured that South Africa crossed the finish line in dramatic fashion.
The Spiritual Struggle of Pakistan
Pakistan had their moments, especially when Mohammad Abbas made a dream comeback to Test cricket. He trapped Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs lbw in quick succession. Ryan Rickelton’s duck, thanks to the sharp criticism of Khurram Shahzad, added to the Proteas’ woes.
Earlier in their innings, Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50) gave Pakistan hope. The pair’s attacking partnership of 79 runs put pressure on the South African bowlers. However, Jansen’s hat-trick, including Babar’s key, turned the tide.
Shakeel’s calm knock ended with him dismissed lbw to a Jansen full toss, and Pakistan’s innings folded to 136. Debutant Corbin Bosch completed his memorable outing with a five-wicket haul, clearing Pakistan’s tail.
What’s next in the WTC race?
With this win, South Africa are firmly at the top of the WTC standings. Meanwhile, India’s hopes of a third consecutive finals appearance hang by a thread after a 0-3 home loss to New Zealand and a loss to Australia in Adelaide.
The updated score shows South Africa with 66.67 percentage points, followed by Australia (58.89) and India (55.88). As the competition heats up, cricket fans eagerly await the final matches in this exciting round of the WTC.
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2024-12-29 12:19:00
