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South Africa registered a convincing 109-run victory over Sri Lanka on Day 5 of the second Test at St. George’s Park, thanks to an exceptional performance by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Maharaj delivered a match-winning spell, claiming five wickets for 76 runs, as Sri Lanka collapsed to 238, losing their last five wickets for just 33 runs.
This win completed a 2-0 series whitewash, underlining South Africa’s dominance at home. The result also marked a crucial achievement for Temba Bavuma’s team, as they climbed to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack and Maharaj’s consistent breakthroughs proved too much for Sri Lanka to handle on the final day.
Impact on the World Test Championship Table
South Africa’s emphatic series victory has significantly reshaped the WTC points table. With a percentage of points (PCT) now standing at 63.33, they overtook Australia to claim the top spot. The Proteas have won six out of their ten Tests in this cycle, showcasing remarkable consistency. Australia, the reigning champions, slipped to second place with a PCT of 60.71. India, meanwhile, remains at the third position with a PCT of 57.29, having suffered a disappointing defeat in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. Despite their loss, Sri Lanka retains fourth place on the table with 45.45 PCT but faces an uphill task to remain in contention for a spot in the final.
South Africa’s road to the WTC final
South Africa’s latest victory places them within touching distance of securing a place in the WTC final, which is set to be held at Lord’s from June 11 to 15, 2025. With a two-match Test series against Pakistan starting on Boxing Day, the Proteas need just one more win to confirm their berth in the final. The team’s recent performances, both at home and away, have cemented their position as strong contenders for the title clash. The performance of key players, including Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, in the series against Sri Lanka helped South Africa in delivering dominant performances, highlighting their depth and resilience.
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India’s qualification scenarios for the WTC final
South Africa’s commanding series win over Sri Lanka has significantly influenced India’s position in the ICC WTC standings. India currently occupies third place on the table with a PCT of 57.29, following their defeat to Australia in Adelaide. The loss to their arch-rivals has intensified the pressure on India to perform flawlessly in the remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With the series level at 1-1, India cannot afford any further setbacks if they aim to control their destiny in the WTC race. This development has placed India in a critical situation, where every match result could determine their qualification prospects. The recent shake-up in the standings, driven by South Africa’s rise to the top with a PCT of 63.33, means India must now surpass not only Australia, who slipped to second place with a PCT of 60.71, but also the resurgent Proteas.
India’s chances of making the WTC final depend heavily on the outcome of their remaining matches in the BGT against Australia. If India wins all three remaining Tests, their PCT will rise to 64.04, enough to surpass Australia even if the latter wins their series against Sri Lanka 2-0. Alternatively, India can still qualify by winning two Tests and drawing one, which would also place them above Australia. However, any further loss in the series would complicate India’s qualification, as their PCT would fall below Australia’s. In such a scenario, India’s fate would hinge on Sri Lanka defeating Australia 2-0 in their upcoming series, adding uncertainty to their path.
Sri Lanka’s diminished hopes
Sri Lanka’s 2-0 series defeat against South Africa has severely dented their chances of making the WTC final. While they remain in the race mathematically, their position at fourth on the table with a PCT of 45.45 puts them in a precarious situation. To have any chance of qualifying, Sri Lanka will need to win all their remaining matches and hope for favorable outcomes in other series, particularly those involving Australia and India. Despite the setback, Sri Lanka’s fight in the first Test and their moments of resilience in the second. demonstrate their potential to cause upsets in the final stages of the WTC cycle.
