SA vs PAK: South Africa, who currently tops the WTC points table and is considered the ideal team to be placed further in the top position, extended their hold on the top spot with 66.67 PCT, which makes them irreplaceable from the top spot.
Pakistan, who were troubled by the Protea pacers, were bowled out for 237 runs, as Marco Jansen, the lanky pacer, had the upper hand at the Centurion on Day 3. However, not only the Protea pacers, but Day 3 seemed entirely dedicated to pace bowling, as even Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas picked early wickets as South Africa were 3 wickets down for just 27 runs on the board.
When South African star batter Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma started off Day 4, it seemed a game for the Proteas; however, in the pre-lunch season at the SuperSport Park, Mohammad Abbas helped pick 5 wickets, costing only 37 runs for the team.
At one point, Pakistan was just 2 wickets away from registering a win in the country after a span of 17 years and 9 test matches played by the Asian nation in the Protea nation.
Then came the two rescue heads of the South African innings, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, as they scored the final 40 runs for the home side to see them off, thus guaranteeing a place in the World Test Championship final.
WTC 2025: World Test Championship Standings
| Position | Team Code | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1. | SA | South Africa | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2. | AUS | Australia | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 106 | 58.89 |
| 3. | IND | India | 16 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 114 | 55.89 |
| 4. | NZ | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5. | SL | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6. | ENG | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7. | BAN | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8. | PAK | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9. | WI | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 24.24 |
(Source: ICC)
At one stage, when South Africa was just 99/8, the match seemed to have slipped away from the grip of the South African side; however, with Rabada and Jansen’s heroics, South Africa seized their WTC final berth.
Abbas, who made his comeback to the test side after a span of almost 3 years, bowled a massive continuous spell of 19.3 overs, also picking up 6 wickets, which once dimmed the hope for the home side.
However, more than Marco Jansen, the Protea no. 10, Kagiso Rabada, slammed the Pakistan pacers as he scored 31 quick runs off just 26 balls, as the day seemed reserved for the lower-order batters, as in both the MCG and Centurion tests, the no. 8 and no. 10 batters saved the day for their respective sides. From Aussie no. 10 Nathan Lyon to South African no. 10 Kagiso Rabada, South Africa clinched their 2-wicket victory to seal their WTC final spot.
