ICC World Test Championship Points Table: Pakistan Move To The 5th Spot Following A 7-Wicket Win Over South Africa

Champion batsman Babar Azam kicked off his Test captaincy career on a brilliant note as Pakistan thumped a reckless South Africa by seven wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

As a result, Pakistan have swapped place with South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship Table. The home side has claimed the fifth spot with their overall PCT being 37.7. South Africa, on the other hand, have dropped to sixth place following their 7th defeat in 10 matches with their PCT being 34.3.

Both sides are, however, out of contention as far as qualifying for the World Test Championship final, which is set to take place at Lord’s between June 18-22.

After having won the toss, South Africa squandered the advantage courtesy of a poor batting display in which nearly every batsman got a start but failed to convert into a big knock.

Opener Dean Elgar scored a patient 58 (off 106 balls) and when he and Faf du Plessis (23) were at the crease with the score reading 2-108 in 28.2 overs, it looked like the Proteas were on their way to a healthy first innings total.

However, Yasir Shah’s (3-54) dismissal of Faf du Plessis triggered a collapse that saw the visitors go from being 2-108 to 9-195. A few lusty blows by Kagiso Rabada (21) ensured that South Africa eventually ended up with 220.

In response, Pakistan found itself in a lot of trouble after the Kagiso Rabada-led South African attack reduced them to 4/27 at stumps on the first day.

However, a patient half-century from Azhar Ali (51 off 151), a brilliant hundred by Fawad Alam (109) and handy knocks from Faheem Ashraf (64 off 94 balls), Hasan Ali (21 off 33 balls), Nauman Ali (24 off 49 balls) and Yasir Shah (38* off 37 balls) ensured that Pakistan recovered from a precarious 4/27 to a commanding 378 all-out.

With 158 in arrears, South Africa needed someone to do a Fawad Alam and while Aiden Markram (74) and Rassie van der Dussen (64) looked like doing that during their 127-run-stand for the 2nd wicket, the latter’s dismissal paved way for another collapse.

The target of 88 was never going to enough and even though the Anrich Nortje dismissed both the openers cheaply, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and Fawal Alam ensured that the total was achieved with ease.

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Here’s a look at the ICC World Test Championship Table following Pakistan’s 7-wicket win over South Africa: