Now Reading: South Africa Smash Australia by an Innings to Shake Up the WTC Table
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South Africa Smash Australia by an Innings to Shake Up the WTC Table
South Africa roared back at St George’s Park, crushing Australia by an innings and 31 runs to level the series 1-1. The defending WTC champions started this Test a game down, yet they flipped the script in Gqeberha and shook up the World Test Championship 2025-27 table in one thunderous result.
South Africa Fight Back From the Brink in Gqeberha
Temba Bavuma’s side were in trouble early. The hosts slipped to 110 for 6 inside the first 50 overs of their first innings, and the series looked set to tilt Australia’s way.
Instead, South Africa recovered to post a total that proved more than enough. That recovery was the turning point of the match and set up a comprehensive innings victory.
A Statement Win for the Defending Champions
Winning by an innings is rarely just about the scoreboard. It shows total control, and it sends a message to every team chasing a place in the 2027 WTC final.
South Africa began the match in a tough spot after losing the opener. They finished it with the series level and the momentum firmly on their side.
How the WTC 2025-27 Points Table Has Changed
The result moved the standings immediately. Australia stay first, but their PCT has dropped from 81.82 to 75.00, a fall of 6.82 points from a single defeat.
New Zealand remain second on 72.22. South Africa’s PCT rose from 60.00 to 66.67, lifting them from fourth to third.
The gap between Australia and South Africa is now 8.33 percentage points, which makes the top of the table far tighter than it was before this Test.
Updated WTC 2025-27 Points Table After SA vs AUS 2nd Test
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Tie | Draw | N/R | PTS | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 75.00 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 72.22 |
| 3 | South Africa | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 55.56 |
| 5 | India | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 51.52 |
| 6 | England | 16 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74 | 38.54 |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 33.33 |
| 8 | West Indies | 12 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 20.83 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4.63 |
The Chasing Pack
Bangladesh sit fourth and India fifth, and both hold a PCT above 50. England, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan occupy sixth through ninth. They are currently outside contention for the 2027 WTC final.
What Is at Stake in the Third Test?
With the series locked at 1-1, the third and final Test is a series decider and a major WTC points contest at once. The result will directly change the PCT figures of both sides.
A South Africa win would give them the series and more WTC points, strengthening or improving their third-place standing. A fresh defeat for Australia could let New Zealand and South Africa close the gap even further.
Why the Decider Matters So Much
This series has shown how quickly the standings can move. South Africa entered the 2nd Test in fourth and left it in third, while Australia lost 6.82 PCT points in one result.
The pressure now sits on both camps. For Australia, it is about protecting top spot. For South Africa, it is about turning a comeback into a statement.
The picture at the top of the WTC 2027 race remains far from settled, and the decider could redraw it again.
