Updated WTC points table after Australia's comprehensive win over South Africa in Durban

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series against South Africa with a comprehensive 214-run victory in the first match at Kingsmead, Durban. Set a record target of 421 runs at the venue, South Africa could only manage to score 206 in the fourth innings as Josh Hazlewood ran through their batting with his career-best figures in a single Test innings.

The right-arm seamer picked up a six-wicket haul, registering figures of 6/49 in 16.5 overs. Apart from him, Matt Resnshaw (2/30) also chipped in with two wickets after scoring a phenomenal century (190) in the first innings that rescued Australia.

As a result, South Africa suffered their first defeat under the leadership of captain Temba Bavuma, who had won 11 out of his first 12 Test matches. On the other hand, Australia registered their fourth successive win in Durban. 

South Africa came into Day 5 on 102/4 with Aiden Markram (45*) and Wiaan Mulder (5*) at the crease. The duo extended their partnership to 69 before Hazlewood struck a crucial blow on the stroke of lunch, getting Mulder strangled down the leg side for 29.

In the following over, Steve Smith managed to take a sharp catch at slip as Matt Renshaw continued his magic with the ball, finding the outside edge of Kyle Verreynne’s bat.

Aiden Markram fights lone battle

However, Markram continued to play a lone hand, scoring his 14^th Test fifty. He stitched another 45-run stand with Marco Jansen for the seventh wicket. However, Josh Hazlewood continued to be the thorn in South Africa’s flesh as he nipped one back into Marco Jansen (35 off 54) and shattered his stumps with a dream delivery.

Three balls later, he made another one climb sharply on Simon Harmer (0 off 3), who could only glove it to Alex Carey. In the following over, Mitchell Starc got the big scalp of Aiden Markram (75), who got an inside edge which again went into Alex Carey’s gloves.

In the end, Hazlewood bounced out Anrich Nortje (4), who pulled him straight to Nathan Lyon at mid-wicket as Australia completed a comfortable win. South Africa lost their last four wickets for five runs in 16 deliveries.

Meanwhile, following their win, Australia continued their dominance at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) Points Table for the 2025-27 cycle, sitting on top with nine wins out of 11 matches with a win percentage of 81.82%. 

On the other hand, South Africa slipped to third position with three wins from five matches, having a win percentage of 60%. 

ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 Points Table