South Africa finish top of WTC table after convincing win over Pakistan
South Africa finally broke Pakistan’s resistance on the fourth day of the second Test to win the series 2-0 and move to the top of the World Test standings.
After trailing by 421 runs, the tourists showed greater determination in the second innings in the hope of reaching a draw and set a small target of 58 runs for the Proteas in the final session of the day.
South Africa completed the target with ease, with former Durham batsman David Bedingham moving up from fifth to hit 44 off 30 balls.
Cape Town’s victory was built on a first-innings total of 615 all out, with opener Ryan Rickelton top-scoring with 259 runs.
After beating Pakistan by 194, they executed the follow-on but Shan Masood’s 145 added some respectability.
Babar Azam scored 81 runs in 205 games but despite the likes of Muhammad Rizwan (41), Salman Ali Agha (48) And Aamer Jamal further resisted, Kagiso Rabada (3-115) and Keshav Maharaj (3-137) Or gradually decreasing (34) is in the lower order.
Victory for South Africa ensures they advance to June’s World Test Championship final against Australia, who are ranked first in the two-year cycle.
“Everyone is looking forward to it,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said. “(Beating Australia) won’t be a mean feat, but we’re going to enjoy the moment and celebrate and deal with it as the time approaches.”
