WTC Points Table: South Africa bounced back in style to level the two-match Test series against Pakistan, clinching an emphatic 8-wicket victory in the second Test at the National Stadium on Thursday, October 23.
It was a complete performance from Aiden Markram’s men, who outplayed the hosts across all four days to record their first Test win on Pakistani soil in 18 years and their first victory in the new World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.
Proteas Dominate Day 4 to Seal Historic Win
Resuming on Day 4, South Africa’s bowlers tore through Pakistan’s middle and lower order, triggering a dramatic collapse. The hosts could only muster 138 runs in their second innings, leaving the visitors just 68 runs to chase for victory after having taken a crucial 70-run first-innings lead.
The Proteas knocked off the target comfortably, wrapping up the match with eight wickets to spare — a result that brought them right back into the contest and injected life into the new WTC cycle.
WTC Standings: South Africa Rise, Pakistan Slip
The result has shaken up the World Test Championship table, with both Pakistan and South Africa swapping positions in the standings.
Pakistan, led by Shan Masood, have dropped three places from second to fifth – after the defeat. They now hold one win and one loss from two Tests, giving them a 50% points percentage (PCT).
South Africa, meanwhile, have opened their account and climbed to fourth place, also sitting on a 50% PCT but ahead of Pakistan due to superior ranking metrics.
India have moved back into third place with a PCT of 61.9, courtesy of four wins from seven matches. At the top, Australia and Sri Lanka continue to dominate, both unbeaten so far in the new WTC cycle.
At the other end of the table, New Zealand remain the only team yet to register a win, while the West Indies are still searching for their first points despite playing five Tests in this cycle.
What’s Next for Both Teams
South Africa’s next assignment in the WTC will be a challenging home series against India, starting November 14, where they’ll look to build on this momentum.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will have a long gap before their next Test outing – they’re scheduled to face Bangladesh in March 2026, where they’ll aim to bounce back and regain lost ground in the standings.
With the series now level and the WTC race heating up, both teams will be eager to fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of their upcoming assignments.
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