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South Africa beat Australia, India's WTC final hopes stay alive

South Africa's innings victory lifts its PCT to 66.67 while India remains fifth with 51.52 PCT.

By , Sports news desk

· 2 min read

Temba Bavuma
Temba Bavuma (file photo) Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs at Gqeberha, moving to 48 points and third place in the WTC 2025-27 table. India, fifth with 51.52 PCT, has seven Tests left and must win most of them while rivals drop points.

Key takeaways

  • South Africa won the second Test at Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs.
  • South Africa's PCT rose from 60 to 66.67 and its points tally moved from 36 to 48.
  • Australia remains top with a PCT of 75.00 despite the defeat.
  • India is fifth with a 51.52 PCT after 11 Tests, having won five, lost four and drawn two.
  • India has seven Tests remaining: two against New Zealand and five against Australia at home.

South Africa's victory over Australia in the second Test at St George's Park, Gqeberha, has given India a glimmer of hope in the World Test Championship 2025-27 race. The hosts enforced the follow-on after bowling Australia out for 99 in the first innings, having declared on 425/9. Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder shared seven wickets as Australia were dismissed for 295 in the second innings, handing South Africa an innings and 31-run win.

Standings after the Gqeberha Test

Australia remains on top of the WTC 2025-27 standings with a PCT of 75.00. New Zealand is second at 72.22, while South Africa is third with 66.67. South Africa and New Zealand have both played six games with four wins each, but New Zealand's one draw and one loss, compared with South Africa's two losses, explains the gap. India is fifth with 51.52 PCT after playing 11 Tests, winning five, losing four and drawing two. Bangladesh sits fourth and remains in contention for a top-two spot.

India's latest Test win came in Sri Lanka in the first of the two games, while the second ended in a draw. The Shubman Gill-led side has seven Tests remaining, two against New Zealand and five against Australia at home. To collect a PCT of 60, India need to win 62 points from the remaining matches. India can't afford to lose any and even if they do, that count shouldn't go over two. India would also need Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to drop points in their respective remaining matches. WTC 2025-27 final will be played next year at the Oval in London. South Africa faces Australia in the series decider in Cape Town starting next Tuesday. New Zealand plays India in Wellington from November 19 to 23.

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