A Personal Triumph: Bavuma Reflects on SA's WTC Final Qualification
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Centurion, Dec 29 (NationPress) South Africa's skipper Temba Bavuma shared that it was a profoundly emotional experience for him as the Proteas secured their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) final after a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday.
"This was indeed an emotional moment for me. There is a lot of joy and happiness on our side. We took the tough route, but I’m pleased we emerged victorious. I was still sulking earlier," Bavuma remarked post-match.
Prior to the commencement of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, South Africa topped the leaderboard for the upcoming final at Lord's. The triumph against Pakistan guaranteed their place among the top two in the standings, marking their inaugural WTC final appearance.
Nonetheless, the victory wasn’t straightforward as the hosts faltered while chasing 148 runs, with Kagiso Rabada (31 not out) and Marco Jansen (16 not out) eventually leading them to success and securing their spot in the final.
Bavuma praised Aiden Markram for his impressive score of 89 in the first innings, which was pivotal in setting up the win and earned him the title of Player of the Match.
"Aiden got us off to a great start. There wasn’t much communication needed. We maintained our confidence. I didn’t even watch the end closely; I was in the restroom. I returned when only 15 runs were necessary. This is a significant victory, not just for me, but for the coaching staff as well. Our campaign began poorly against India, where we weren’t given a fair chance. We weren’t ruthless, but we kept finding ways to win. Hopefully, this performance boosts the team's confidence. Players often face scrutiny when they perform poorly. We want to relish this victory and reflect on our achievements," the captain expressed.
The Proteas had already established their dominance in the WTC standings after a 2-0 series victory against Sri Lanka at home. With 11 Tests played in this cycle, South Africa boasts seven victories and a remarkable 66.67 point percentage.
After starting the current cycle with a drawn series at home against India and a clean sweep against New Zealand, the Proteas rebounded with impressive away victories against West Indies and Bangladesh, followed by commanding performances at home.
Under the leadership of Bavuma, South Africa edged out Australia, India, and Sri Lanka, who are also in contention, to become the first team to secure a place in the final, barring any point deductions due to slow over rates.
