The high-octane World Test Championship Final race was further boosted by South Africa's 233-run win over Sri Lanka at Durban's Kingsmead on Saturday. The result meant the Proteas snatched the second spot in the WTC table from Australia, who lost the opening Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test to India at Perth.
Seam-bowling allrounder Marco Jansen who finished with 11 wickets was the architect of South Africa's victory as Sri Lanka, who were set an improbable 516 target and started the fourth day at 103-5, was bowled out for 282. The result helped the Africans to leapfrog Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia to the second place as their points percentage (PCT) went from 54.17 to 59.25.
They have three Tests left this season -- one against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan. If they manage to win all, South Africa will finish with a PCT above 69, which could seal their place in next year’s WTC final at the Lord’s.
India, meanwhile, need to finish the five-Test BGT series 4-0 to ensure a direct entry to the Final. A 4-0 win Down Under would take India's percentage point above the safe zone. Victory at Perth took India's PCT to 61.1.
Pos | Team | Match | Wins | Loss | Draw | Points | PCT |
1 | India | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 110 | 61.1 |
2 | South Africa | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 59.26 |
3 | Australia | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 90 | 57.69 |
4 | New Zealand | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 72 | 50.00 |
4 | Sri Lanka | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 60 | 50.00 |
6 | England | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 105 | 43.75 |
7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
8 | West Indies | 10 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 26.67 |
9 | Bangladesh | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 33 | 25.00 |
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Australia, who are the defending WTC champions, got a percentage of 57.69. The Kangaroos need at least four wins from their remaining seven matches to confirm their automatic entry.
However, the fate of the teams is not entirely in their hands as the outcome of other fixtures is likely to become instrumental for their future. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the defeat at Durban is a setback. To keep their hopes of playing the final alive, they need to win all of their remaining three fixtures.
New Zealand, who won the inaugural World Test Championship beating India, are up against England. To make it to the final this season, they had to win all their remaining Test matches. However, the Three Lions walked away with an eight-wicket win on the fourth day of the first test in Christchurch on Sunday. It was New Zealand cleansweeping an away series in India earlier this year that jeopardized its dream of qualifiying for a third consecutive WTC Final in June 2025.
The defeats meant the Kiwis and Lankans are tied at the fourth place with 50.00 PCT each.