South Africa confirm their spot in WTC 2025 final

South Africa sealed their place in the World Test Championship 2025 final after a nerve-wracking two-wicket win over Pakistan at the Centurion on December 29. The Proteas just needed one win out of the two Tests against the Asian side to confirm their place in the final, and have got one in the first Test itself. 

But the path wasn’t that straightforward at one point during the Test when they found themselves reeling under ultimate pressure at 99/8 chasing 148 before Kagiso Rabada pulled out of the Big Dawg energy in him to pull off an improbable win. 

The left-handed batter smashed a 26-ball 31 despite conditions favouring the bowlers in a stellar ninth-wicket partnership alongside Marco Jansen (16-ball 24). It was quite a clutch knock from Rabada, considering that Pakistan ran through the Proteas middle order, with Mohammad Abbas finishing with figures of 6/54.

However, South Africa will have to wait until the end of the Border-Gavaskar trophy to know who they will likely face in the final. Both India and Australia are in contention to become the other finalists. 

Could South Africa finally break their ICC trophy jinx? We will have to wait till the WTC final, which starts on June 11, 2025, at the iconic Lord’s in London.