South Africa got a big boost a few days after sealing a spot in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Pakistan to make a 2-0 sweep of the two-match series which guaranteed them the top position in the WTC standings.
After posting a massive 615 in their first innings on the back of a brilliant double hundred by Ryan Rickelton (259) and hundreds by Temba Bavuma (106) and Kyle Verreynne (100), the hosts rode on brilliant bowling by Kagiso Rabada (3-55), and Kwena Maphaka (2-43) to bundle out Pakistan for 194 in their first innings.
The visitors, forced to follow on, put up a strong fight in the second innings despite the absence of young batting sensation Siam Ayub, who got injured on the opening day of the match and did not bat, with skipper Shan Masood and his predecessor Babar Azam (81) posting 205 for the opening wicket.
Resuming on 213/1 on the fourth day of the match, Masood continued the fight despite losing Khurram Shahzad early in the morning after adding 10 runs to his overnight score of eight. Masood and Kamran Ghulam added 43 runs for the third wicket before the latter was bowled by Rabada. Masood found another willing partner in Saud Shakeel (23) and they raised 51 runs for the fourth wicket partnership as Pakistan inched closer to wiping out the lead.
South Africans finally made a double breakthrough and dealt a huge blow to Pakistan's resistance as they claimed the wickets of Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood in four balls. Shakeel edged to Aiden Markram off Rabada while Masood lost and was given out on DRS review after a delivery by Maphaka kept low and hit him on his knee. DRS showed all red lights and the umpire had to send Masood back.
Masood played a gallant knock of 145 off 351 deliveries that contained 17 fours.
Rizwan was 41 of 75 deliveries, Salman Agha chipped in with an important 48 while Aamer Jamal made 34 as Pakistan cut the deficit but the South Africans did not let their guard down as wickets were falling at intervals. Rabada took 3-115 and Keshav Maharaj grabbed 3-137 and Marco Jansen 2-101 and Paksitan's resistance eventually came to end at 478.
South Africa required 58 to win the game. They went in a fit of rage against the target and achieved it without losing a single wicket with David Bedingham (47* off 30) and Aiden Markram (14 not out) taking them to 61 for no loss in double quick time to seal a memorable victory.
Brief scores:
South Africa 615 & 61 for no loss (David Bedingham 47 not out, Aiden Markram 14 not out) beat Pakistan 194 & (f/0) 478 all out in 122.1 overs (Shan Masood 145, Babar Azam 81, Salman Agha 48, Mohd Rizwan 41; Kagiso Rabada 3-115, Keshav Maharaj 3-137, Marko Jansen 2-101) by 10 wickets.
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