South Africa played 12 Tests in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle and will now head to Lord’s aiming to win their first senior ICC title. Here’s a look back at how they secured their spot in the final.
1st Test vs India, Centurion: Won by an innings and 32 runs
Dean Elgar’s century in his penultimate Test set up a massive victory for South Africa, ensuring they could not lose the series and that the country remained India’s final frontier. Elgar scored 185 after South Africa’s decision to go with an all-pace attack paid off, as Kagiso Rabada claimed his 14th five-wicket haul to dismantle India. Elgar had support from David Bedingham, who scored 56 on debut, and Marco Jansen, who contributed 84 from No. 7. South Africa took a 163-run first innings lead.
Rabada, left-arm seamer Nandre Burger (also on debut), and Gerald Coetzee then bowled India out for 131 in the second innings. Only Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill managed double figures. South Africa did lose their captain, Temba Bavuma, to a hamstring injury during the match.
2nd Test vs India, Cape Town: Lost by 7 wickets
Things quickly changed at Newlands, which hosted the shortest Test in over a century, lasting just seven overs more than a full ODI. South Africa were bowled out for their lowest total in 100 years as Mohammed Siraj took 6 for 15. Only David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne passed ten runs.
India’s batting showed some fight, led by Kohli’s 46, to reach 153. Despite Aiden Markram’s seventh Test century, Jasprit Bumrah’s 6 for 61 left India chasing 79, which they achieved in 12 overs to share the series. The pitch later received an unsatisfactory rating from the ICC.
1st Test vs New Zealand, Mount Maunganui: Lost by 281 runs
South Africa brought a team with seven uncapped players to New Zealand while most frontliners were busy with the new SA20 T20 tournament. Six players debuted in this Test, highlighting the gap between the teams.
New Zealand piled on 511 runs with a century from Kane Williamson and a career-best 240 from Rachin Ravindra. South Africa were bowled out for 162 and made to follow on. Williamson scored another century in the second innings, and New Zealand set a massive target of 529. South Africa collapsed at 5 for 2 and were eventually all out for 247 in a humiliating defeat.
2nd Test vs New Zealand, Hamilton: Lost by 7 wickets
South Africa put up a better fight, taking a 31-run first innings lead and setting New Zealand a target of 267. Dane Piedt, returning from the US, took eight wickets in the match, while Bedingham scored his first Test hundred.
However, Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 133 guided New Zealand to victory, earning their first series win over South Africa. Coach Shukri Conrad dismissed the tour as an aberration, likening it to “when Burnley went to Anfield,” a phrase that stuck.
1st Test vs West Indies, Port of Spain: Drawn
After losing their first ICC white-ball final, South Africa regrouped in the Caribbean. With Bavuma back, he scored 86 in the first innings. Rabada and Keshav Maharaj combined to take seven wickets, leaving South Africa with a 124-run first innings lead.
South Africa declared, setting West Indies 298 to chase. At 64 for 3, victory seemed possible, but despite Maharaj’s efforts, time ran out and a determined 92 from Alick Athanaze ensured the match ended in a draw, leaving South Africa’s campaign hanging by a thread.
2nd Test vs West Indies, Guyana: Won by 40 runs
After being bowled out for 160 in the first innings, South Africa began their comeback by bowling West Indies out for 144. Markram scored 51 and Verreynne 59 in the second innings, setting a target of 263.
West Indies were 104 for 6 at one point, but a 77-run partnership for the seventh wicket threatened South Africa’s chances. Maharaj broke the stand and took three of the last four wickets to seal a tense win and keep South Africa’s hopes alive.
1st Test vs Bangladesh, Mirpur: Won by 7 wickets
South Africa bowled Bangladesh out for 106, with frontline spinners Dane Piedt and Maharaj shining. Bangladesh fought back to 99 for 5 in reply, but a lower-order rescue between Kyle Verreynne, who scored his second century, and Wiaan Mulder helped South Africa reach 308.
Rabada’s second six-wicket haul left Bangladesh reeling, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali batted well to stretch the match. South Africa chased 106 to win with some nerves but without Bavuma, who re-injured his elbow. Markram captained the side.
2nd Test vs Bangladesh, Chattogram: Won by an innings and 273 runs
Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder scored their first Test centuries in a dominant innings. South Africa declared at 565 for 6, confident of their position.
Rabada took another five-wicket haul, and Maharaj claimed five in the second innings as Bangladesh was bowled out twice. The match ended inside three days, marking South Africa’s first series win in the subcontinent in over a decade. Many players, including Maharaj, see this as the turning point that gave the team belief they could win the WTC.
1st Test vs Sri Lanka, Durban: Won by 233 runs
The home summer began with high hopes as Bavuma returned from injury. He top-scored with 70, but South Africa were bowled out for 191. Marco Jansen then ran through the Sri Lankan batting, taking 7 for 13, dismissing them for 42 — their lowest Test score.
Stubbs scored a second Test century, and Bavuma a third. South Africa set Sri Lanka 516 to win. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 282 despite losing two bowlers to injury.
2nd Test vs Sri Lanka, Gqeberha: Won by 109 runs
With Wiaan Mulder injured, Ryan Rickelton debuted and scored a solid century. Bavuma made 78 and Verreynne 105 as South Africa took a 30-run first innings lead.
Sri Lanka showed fight, led by Pathum Nissanka’s 89, but Dane Paterson, with over 500 first-class wickets and county experience, was the key bowler. South Africa scored 317 in the second innings, setting Sri Lanka 348 to win.
After four days, the game was balanced at 205 for 5. Maharaj’s 5 for 76 sealed the series and South Africa’s fifth consecutive win.
Sidenote: Due to other results — India losing to New Zealand and being tied 1-1 in Australia — South Africa secured early qualification for the WTC final and only needed to win one of their last two Tests to confirm their place.
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