South Africa Tops WTC Standings After Series Win Over Sri Lanka

Updated : Mon Dec 09 2024 13:01:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

South Africa has taken a significant lead in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings after claiming a 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka, highlighted by a dominant 109-run victory in the second Test. This series success has propelled them to the top spot in the WTC qualification, with a point percentage of 63.33, surpassing Australia.

South Africa's Campaign started slowly, with only a solitary win in their first five matches. However, a remarkable turnaround since then has seen them secure five successive wins, cementing their position at the top of the WTC standings. The team now requires one more win against Pakistan to secure a spot in the finals. Australia and India remain in contention for the number one spot, with their own upcoming series against each other and Sri Lanka respectively going to play a crucial role in the chase for top spot.

The WTC cycle still has 15 Tests remaining, with several teams still vying for a spot in the top two. South Africa, currently leading the standings, needs to win four matches to be certain of a place in the WTC final, but can qualify with fewer points if other teams underperform. India and Australia are closely battling it out for a spot, with a strong performance in their upcoming series against each other crucial to their chances. Sri Lanka still retains a possibility of making it to the top two, but will need to win all their remaining three Tests to achieve it, which would guarantee a place in the final. England, on the other hand, has slim chances of qualifying, but can finish second with several results going their way.

The remaining matches in the WTC cycle will be a closely watched spectacle as teams fight for a spot in the final. South Africa's victory has given them the momentum, but the table is still open to significant change. The likeliness of South Africa securing the top spot in the table coupled with other teams' performances in the battle for the remaining spots will make for an exciting battle.