WTC standings shake-up: Pakistan move past India; end South Africa’s winning streak | Cricket News
Pakistan secured a decisive 93-run victory against world test cricket champion South Africa in the first Test on Wednesday, ending South Africa’s impressive 10-match winning streak.With the win Pakistan also overtook India in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table and jumped to number two in the standings behind Australia. “I think you always have to start well. It’s a great opportunity playing the team that won the previous Test Championship,” said Pakistan captain Shan Masood. “We are very excited to be back home, to be playing Test cricket, and to start off with a win. I think that’s a great start. We’ve closed it off here today, and we’re onto the next one.”
WTC Points Table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Drawn | Deduction | PT | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 |
| Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| India | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 61.90 |
| England | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 43.33 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| West Indies | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Earlier, left-arm spinner Noman Ali’s outstanding performance with match figures of 10-191, combined with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s crucial 4-33, proved instrumental in dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup for 183 on Day 4.Noman Ali’s remarkable form on home wickets continued, having claimed 46 wickets in his last five home tests, including 20 against England and 16 against the West Indies. His latest performance included figures of 6-112 in the first innings and 4-79 in a continuous 28-over spell.South Africa began the day at 51-2, facing a challenging target of 277 runs on a difficult spinning wicket. The team had already conceded a 109-run first-innings lead.The morning session saw early setbacks for South Africa when Tony de Zorzi, who had scored a century in the first innings, was dismissed for 16 by Afridi. Tristan Stubbs soon followed, managing only 2 runs before being caught by Salman Ali Agha.Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton provided some resistance with a 73-run partnership. Brevis, playing in his third test, showed aggressive intent by hitting Noman for a six and two boundaries in a single over, reaching his half-century off 51 balls.However, Brevis’s promising innings ended when he was bowled after scoring his fifty. Rickelton’s patient knock of 45 runs from 145 deliveries was terminated by off-spinner Sajid Khan, with Agha taking another catch in the slips.
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South Africa’s struggles continued after lunch as Senuran Muthusamy fell to Khan’s full-pitched delivery while attempting a sweep shot. Afridi then cleaned up the remaining batsmen to secure Pakistan’s victory.The second and final test of the series is scheduled to begin on Monday in Rawalpindi. South Africa’s bowling options will be strengthened with the return of experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first test due to injury.The match highlighted Pakistan’s dominance in home conditions, particularly their spinners’ effectiveness on turning wickets. South Africa’s inability to handle the spin and reverse swing ultimately led to their first defeat in 11 matches.
