The attempt to contextualize this Test series may, unfortunately, have detracted from this Test match, particularly for South Africa. The hosts have already qualified for the World Test Championship final after beating Pakistan by two wickets in Centurion, and as such, don’t necessarily have a bigger picture to play for. However, they have won eight consecutive Test matches at home against Pakistan, and never not won a home series against them since the turn of the century, and in that bilateral context, there remains plenty to play for.
In the days since South Africa qualified, there has been significant discussion about the perceived softer nature of their draw to the World Test Championship, for which coach Shukri Conrad made “no apologies”. However, with no Test cricket between this Test and the WTC final, South Africa will aim to enter the final in style, extending a six-game winning streak.
Pakistan’s prospects for the World Cup were long since vanished, but they must change the habit of losing winning situations, which has been a routine in this cycle. As a result, they’ve lost seven of their past nine Tests, including all eight in South Africa. Centurion was the closest they got to breaking the jinx, with South Africa still 49 runs away from victory. However, as has been the case with Pakistan too frequently, they struggled to finish off the tail with the ball and let another one slip through their fingers.
