South Africa gave a crushing defeat to Pakistan, made it to the WTC final

South Africa performed brilliantly by sweeping Pakistan in the two-match Test series. South Africa gave a big blow to Pakistan by winning by 10 wickets in the Cape Town Test. With this victory, the team captained by Temba Bavuma has confirmed its place in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.

Cape Town Test: The story of day four

Pakistan gave a target of only 58 runs to South Africa on the fourth day, which the host team achieved in 7.1 overs without losing any wicket.

• David Bedingham:
  • 47 not out (in 30 balls).
  • 4 fours and 3 sixes.
• Aiden Markram: 14 not out.

South Africa’s first innings: heaps of runs

South Africa scored a mammoth score of 615 runs in the first innings thanks to the brilliant innings of Ryan Rickelton (259), Temba Bavuma (106) and Kyle Verreynne (100).

• Pakistan’s response:
  In the first innings, Pakistan team was reduced to just 194 runs.
  • Babar Azam: 58 runs.
  • Mohammad Rizwan: 46 runs.

This gave South Africa a lead of 421 runs, and Pakistan was forced to follow on.

Second innings: Pakistan’s struggle

Pakistan performed slightly better in the second innings, but could not compensate for the big score.

• Captain Shan Masood:
  • 145 runs (in 251 balls).
  • 17 fours.
• Babar Azam:
  • 81 runs (in 124 balls).
  • 10 fours.

Masood and Babar made a partnership of 205 runs for the first wicket, but after this Pakistan’s collapse started.

• Other batsmen:
  • Kamran Ghulam: 28.
  • Saud Shakeel: 23.
  • Agha Salman: 48.
  • Mohammad Rizwan: 41.

The entire Pakistan team was all out for 478 runs in 122.1 overs.

Performance of South African bowlers

South African bowlers performed brilliantly in both the innings.

• Kagiso Rabada:
  • First innings: 3 wickets.
  • Second innings: 3 wickets.
• Keshav Maharaj:
  • Second innings: 3 wickets.
• Marco Yanson:
  • Second innings: 2 wickets.

Step towards WTC final

South Africa had already fulfilled its dream of making it to the WTC final in the first Test.

• Final match:
  • June 2025, Lord’s.
  • Opponent: Australia.
• Australia’s performance:
  Australia has made it to the WTC final for the second consecutive time by defeating India.