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South Africa sits at No. 2 position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, and if the Proteas manage to win the next three Tests as well, they are guaranteed to finish in the top two and qualify for the WTC 2025 final.
How South Africa can qualify for WTC 2025 final. (Picture Credit: AP)
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 233 runs in the first Test of the ongoing two-match series played at Kingsmead in Durban. In reply to the target of 516 runs, the Dhananjaya de Silva-led side could only manage to score 282 runs in the second inning on Saturday (November 30) to suffer a heavy defeat. With the win over Sri Lanka in the series opener, South Africa has not only taken a 1-0 lead in the ongoing bilateral series, but it has also moved to No. 2 position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. They Proteas have 59.26 PCT%. Only the Indian men’s cricket team, which has 61.11 PCT%, sits above the Temba Bavuma & Co.
With a win over Sri Lanka in the first Test, South Africa has boosted its chances of finishing in the top two of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle and securing a place in the WTC 2025 final next year, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s from June 11 to 15.
South Africa, which kicked off the Sri Lanka series at 5th position with 54.17 PCT%, will play three more Tests in the ongoing WTC cycle, and if they manage to win all three of them, then they are guaranteed to finish in the top two.
The big advantage for the Proteas is that they have to play all the remaining three Tests at home. South Africa will face Sri Lanka in the second Test of the ongoing series at St George’s Park in Gqeberha from December 5 to 9 and then host Pakistan in a two-match Test series in December and January.
The first Test of the South Africa-Pakistan Test series will be played from December 26 to 30 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, and Newlands Stadium in Cape Town will host the second Test from January 3 to 7.
If South Africa wins all three remaining Tests, then it will finish the WTC 2023-25 points table with 69.44 PCT%. Sri Lanka, which has 50 PCT% as of now, can finish with a maximum of 61.54 PCT% and therefore can’t catch South Africa. New Zealand, which has 54.55 PCT% as of Saturday, will also not be able to match SA’s tally, and they can finish with a maximum of 64.29 PCT%.
India, which is currently engaged in a five-match Test series against Australia, also won’t be able to finish above South Africa if the Proteas win the next three Tests.
If India, which has 61.11 PCT% as of now, whitewashes Australia (5-0), then it will finish the WTC 2023-25 cycle with 69.30 PCT%.
So, for South Africa, the equation is very clear. Three wins in the remaining three matches will take them through.
