Hard-Fought Draw Vs India, Series Sweep Vs Pakistan: South Africa's Road To WTC Final 2025

South Africa road to WTC finale [Source: @Jay_Cricket12/x.com]

After two years of hard-work and exemplary performances, two teams have set the date against each other in the World Test Championship Final (WTC) - Australia and South Africa. The two heavyweights will collide against each other at the mecca of Cricket, the Lord's.

The South African side has a golden opportunity to beat the Aussies and capture their second-ever ICC title. They last won an ICC tournament in 1998 and since then have suffered heartbreaks. This WTC cycle they have done well and have been clinical with their performances.

Ahead of the finale we look at South Africa's road to finale and the hurdles they crossed.

South Africa's road to WTC finale

Hard-fought draw Vs India (1-1)

The Proteas started their journey by earning a hard-fought win over Rohit Sharma's Team India. In the two-match series, the South African side inflicted a heavy defeat in the first game, but India bounced back and levelled up the series. 1:1 by winning the second match.

India were the better side but the Proteas showed resilience to defy the Indian side a famous series win.

First series loss of WTC cycle (2-0)

The team then travelled to New Zealand and due to SA20 colliding at the same time, South Africa sent in their inexperienced side and it costed them as the Kiwis were all over them. Kane Williamson was the star of the series as he bludgeoned his way to some remarkable innings and ended the Proteas dominance.

Not so clinical Vs West Indies (1-0)

The team then travelled to West Indies and won the series , 1-0 but it was not that easy for the Proteas. The first Test match was a close affair as the game ended in a stalemate, but the Temba Bavuma led side had the last laugh as they won the second Test match to seal the series.

Destruction of Bangladesh (2-0)

Teams tend to struggle when they go to Bangladesh, however, the Proteas side had a different fire in them as they unexpectedly hammered the Tigers, 2-0. On spinning decks, the Proteas batter, mostly Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne stood tall. Also, Kagiso Rabada's 6-fer at Mirpur stole the show for the visitors.

Clinical at home Vs Sri Lanka (2-0)

South Africa are always a threat in their own backyard and the Sri Lankan side faced the wrath as the home team showed ruthlessness and dominated the proceedings to win the series, 2-0.

In the first Test they thrashed the visitors by 233 runs and followed it up with another clinical win to get closer to the WTC finals.

Final nail in the coffin Vs Pakistan (2-0)

The final nail in the coffin was the win Vs Pakistan at home which sealed their WTC finale place. They won the first Test at Centurion by the barest of margins (2 wickets) and then followed it up with a 10-wicket win at Cape Town.

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