South Africa road to WTC Final 2025: Series results, key players, best performances

South Africa qualified for its first World Test Championship (WTC) final on the back of six consecutive victories that helped it finish at the top of the points table with a PCT of 69.44.

Ahead of the final, the Proteas played 12 matches during the 2023-25 cycle, winning eight and losing three, while also drawing a match. Their only series defeat during this period was a 0-2 thrashing at the hands of the Kiwis, who made the most of home comforts to steamroll an understrength squad.

Following that setback, South Africa remained unbeaten in the championship, winning seven out of eight matches to secure a top-two finish.

South Africa series results (WTC 2023-25)

• Beat Pakistan 2-0 (2) at home
• Beat Sri Lanka 2-0 (2) at home
• Beat Bangladesh 2-0 (2) away
• Beat West Indies 1-0 (2) away
• Lost to New Zealand 0-2 (2) away
• Drew with India 1-1 (2) at home

Most runs for South Africa in WTC 2023-25 ahead of the final

• David Bedingham – 645 runs in 21 innings at 33.94
• Temba Bavuma – 609 runs in 11 innings at 60.90
• Aiden Markram – 572 runs in 18 innings at 33.64
• Tristan Stubbs – 500 runs in 16 innings at 33.33
• Kyle Verreynne – 488 runs in 14 innings at 37.53

Most wickets for South Africa in WTC 2023-25 ahead of the final

• Kagiso Rabada – 47 wickets in 20 innings at 19.97
• Keshav Maharaj – 40 wickets in 13 innings at 20.57
• Marco Jansen – 29 wickets in 12 innings at 20.82
• Dane Paterson – 21 wickets in 10 innings at 23.33
• Nandre Burger – 14 wickets in 6 innings at 16.92

Best batting performance

Ryan Rickelton – 259 off 343 balls (29 fours, 3 sixes) vs Pakistan in Cape Town (January, 2025)

Result: South Africa won by 10 wickets

Best bowling performance

Marco Jansen – 7/13 in 6.5 overs vs Sri Lanka in Durban (November, 2024)

Result: South Africa won by 233 runs

South Africa’s Marco Jansen celebrates after dismissing Sri Lanka‘s Vishwa Fernando.
| Photo Credit:
AFP