WTC 2023-25 Standings After SA vs SL 1st Test: South Africa Leapfrog Australia With Thumping Win Over Sri Lanka

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WTC Final 2025: South Africa pipped Australia to claim second spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings after a thumping 233-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday (November 25).

South Africa wrapped up the win thanks to medium-pacer Marco Jansen finishing with 11 wickets, including a 7-wicket haul in the first innings, to go along with skipper Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs scoring centuries in the second innings.

Sri Lanka was set an improbable 516 target and started the fourth day in a deep hole at 103-5. It was all out for 282, hastened by the dismissal of Dinesh Chandimal, who led the resistance with 83.

After Chandimal was out caught and bowled by Gerald Coetzee, Sri Lanka's last three wickets folded for 11 runs in the next six overs. Jansen, the 2.06-meter left-armer, took the last two wickets for 4-73 in the innings and 11-86 in the match for his maiden 10-for in his 14th test.

With the comprehensive win, South Africa leapfrogged New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia to take second position in the WTC standings. The Proteas now have a win percentage of 59.29 per cent following 5 wins, a draw and 3 defeats in 9 matches.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, slipped to the fifth spot in the World Test Championship standings with a point percentage of 50.00 per cent following five wins and as many defeats in 10 matches.

Sri Lanka will look to bounce back when they face South Africa in the second Test before they conclude their WTC cycle with a home series against Australia. South Africa will look to further strengthen their WTC Final chances, starting with another win over Sri Lanka before another home series against Pakistan. Here is a look at the latest WTC standings:

WTC 2023-25 Standings After SA vs SL 1st Test on November 30, 2024

WTC Final Scenario after South Africa vs Sri Lanka Durban Test

With the Durban Test win, South Africa moved into second position, but to seal their ticket to Lord's, the Proteas still need to win their remaining three matches. Sri Lanka's chances took a little dent. But can still qualify for the WTC Final by winning their remaining games and hope others slip up.

India is in a good position to qualify for the WTC Final scheduled to be held at Lord's in June 2025 after their victory over Australia in Perth. The Men in Blue need three wins from their remaining four matches to secure their place in the final, but have to be wary of Australia.

New Zealand are still in the race for a WTC final spot, but India and Australia still seem the favourites, and will look to outdo each other as the race for the WTC final spot gets heated in the coming weeks.

Australia need at least four wins from their remaining six matches to confirm qualification, while 2021 WTC champions New Zealand will need to win most of their remaining matches, including a series against England, to stay in the hunt.

West Indies and Bangladesh, who are both out of contention lock horns in the Caribbean, will also be in red ball action this coming days. Here is a look at the Test matches of the WTC 2023-25 cycle scheduled for the month of December:

WTC Matches Schedule For December 2024

• November 30 - December 4: West Indies vs Bangladesh 2nd Test - Kingston
• December 5-9: South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test - Gqeberha
• December 6-10: New Zealand vs England 2nd Test - Wellington
• December 6-10: India vs Australia 2nd Test (D/N) - Adelaide
• December 14-18: New Zealand vs England 3rd Test - Hamilton
• December 14-18: India vs Australia 3rd Test - Brisbane
• December 26-30: India vs Australia 4th Test - Melbourne
• December 26-30: South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test - Centurion