India players look at the digital screen for a review during the first day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on January 3, 2024. (Photo by Rodger Bosch / AFP)
Proteas dethroned at the top of the World Test Championship log
The Proteas’ humiliating defeat to India in second Test at Newlands on Thursday have seen the South Africans ousted at the summit of the World Test Championship standings.
India players look at the digital screen for a review during the first day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on January 3, 2024. (Photo by Rodger Bosch / AFP)
The two-match Test series between the Proteas and India ended in a 1-1 draw, but the result saw India pip South Africa at the top of the World Test Championship standings.
ALSO READ | Proteas star nominated for ICC emerging player award
After the win in their opening match of the series, South Africa were positioned at the top of the WTC25 standings. The loss meant their win percentage fell down to 50%, the same as New Zealand, Australia, and Bangladesh.
With the Proteas leading the series with an unassailable 1-0 lead, India needed to bounce back in their only opportunity. The visitors had a riveting first day of the second Test as they bowled South Africa out for 55. However, after getting a decent start to their innings, India’s batting line-up imploded in a bizarre fashion collapsing from 153/4 to 153 all out.
ALSO READ: Where does Dean Elgar rank among the Proteas’ top Test scorers
Despite faltering, India’s bowling resumed from where they had left off in the first innings. This time it was the Jasprit Bumrah show that headlined the second innings as he picked up a five-wicket haul that helped the visitors restrict South Africa to 176. If not for a sensational hundred from Aiden Markram, the hosts would have been in dire straits.
India batters came out with a positive start and wrapped their 79-run chase within 12 overs to secure their second win of the current WTC cycle. However, they did lose three batters in the process.
This was also the shortest completed Test in terms of number of balls bowled, breaking a longstanding record 92-year-old record. It only took 642 balls for the Test to complete with a result, beating the 656-ball record in a Australia v South Africa Test in 1932.
ALSO READ: The real reason Proteas star Dean Elgar is retiring revealed
Proteas relinquish World Test Championship top spot
| POS | TEAM | PCT (%) | PTS | W | L | D | PEN |
| 1 | India | 54.16 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 2 | South Africa | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Australia | 50.00 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 1 | -10 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 50.00 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 45.83 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| 7 | West Indies | 16.67 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | England | 15.00 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -19 |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
PCT (%): Percentage
PTS: Number of points awarded
W: Number of matches won
L: Number of matches lost
D: Number of matches drawn
PEN: Number of penalty overs
ALSO READ: Former Proteas star slams Smith, Boucher in autobiography
