South Africa made history on December 29, becoming the first team to seal a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
They achieved this milestone with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening Test of their two-match series. This marks the Proteas' first qualification for the WTC final in its three editions.
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Chasing a modest target of 148 runs in Centurion, South Africa faced a challenging moment at 99/8. However, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada played crucial innings, ensuring their team's triumph in the second session of Day 4.
This remarkable win placed South Africa at the top of the WTC standings with a points percentage of 66.67%, making the outcome of the second Test irrelevant to their qualification.
Who will South Africa face in the Final?
The WTC final, scheduled from June 11-15, 2025, will be hosted at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Defending champions Australia will be South Africa’s opponent for the World Test Championship decider, who secured their spot after beating India 4-1 at home in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
MORE: South Africa vs Australia, WTC 2025 Final: Who are the umpires and match officials
What is South Africa’s record in the WTC 2023-25 Cycle?
South Africa has played a total of 12 matches in the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle. Out of these, they have secured 8 wins, suffered 3 losses, and registered 1 draw.
South Africa’s record in WTC 2023-25 Cycle:
| Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
Check: Full list of Australia's results in World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle
Full list of South Africa's series results in World Test Championship cycle
Here’s a detailed look at South Africa's series results:
| Series | Year | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Trophy (India in South Africa) | 2023/24 | Drawn | 1-1 (2) |
| Tangiwai Shield (South Africa in New Zealand) | 2023/24 | New Zealand | 2-0 (2) |
| Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (South Africa in West Indies) | 2024 | South Africa | 1-0 (2) |
| South Africa in Bangladesh Test Series | 2024/25 | South Africa | 2-0 (2) |
| Sri Lanka in South Africa Test Series | 2024/25 | South Africa | 2-0 (2) |
| Pakistan in South Africa Test Series | 2024/25 | South Africa | 2-0 (2) |
(*Series ongoing at the time of qualification.)