New Zealand surged ahead of Australia and India to claim the top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table following their commanding 281-run victory against a weakened South African team in the first Test at Mount Maunganui. Currently leading with a points percentage of 66.66%, the Tim Southee-led side now has a strong chance of qualifying for the WTC final next year. With the series against South Africa looking promising for New Zealand, who are expected to secure a 2-0 victory given the six debutants in the opposition, their path to the final seems clearer.
Key performances from Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, and Mitchell Santner ensured New Zealand’s dominance throughout the match. Jamieson’s pivotal strikes after lunch on Day 4, coupled with Santner’s final wicket, led to South Africa’s collapse while chasing a daunting target of 529.
The result at Bay Oval sees last year’s champions, Australia, dropping to second place, with India slipping to third. Meanwhile, South Africa’s fall to seventh position below Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the West Indies reflects their struggles in the series.
India, currently engaged in a crucial five-match series against England, has an opportunity to improve its standing in the WTC points table. With the series currently tied at 1-1, India aims to secure at least two victories in the remaining matches to enhance its chances of competing for the WTC title. The upcoming Test in Rajkot starting on February 15 holds significant importance for India as they look ahead to a challenging tour of Australia later in the year.
