WTC shake-up! Pakistan falls behind India after crushing Rawalpindi defeat

South Africa secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory against Pakistan on Thursday in Rawalpindi, leveling the two-test cricket series. Off-spinner Simon Harmer's exceptional performance, claiming 6-50, dismantled Pakistan's second innings for 138 on Day 4, setting up an easy chase of 68 runs for South Africa.With the loss Pakistan has slipped behind India in the latest World Test Championship (WTC) pointes table. India moved to third place, while Pakistan is at fifth.

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The reigning WTC champion South Africa has moved to fourth position after this convincing win in Rawalpindi. The victory marked a complete turnaround from the first test in Lahore, where Pakistan had won by 93 runs. South Africa, the World Test Championship winners, reached their target of 73-2 in just 12.3 overs.

WTC Points table

The spin duo of Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, who returned from injury after missing the first test, dominated the match with a combined 17 wickets in the second test.South African captain Aiden Markram led the chase with an aggressive 42 off 45 balls, including eight boundaries, before falling lbw to Noman Ali with just four runs needed for victory.Tristan Stubbs, who had impressed with a half-century in South Africa's first innings total of 404, departed for a duck, edging Noman to slip.

Ryan Rickelton sealed the win with a six off Sajid Khan, remaining unbeaten on 25.Harmer achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the third South African bowler to reach 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket when he dismissed Noman.Pakistan's overnight batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, failed to extend their team's lead significantly. Both fell to Harmer early on Day 4, triggering a quick collapse.Babar managed to reach his first half-century of the series but was trapped lbw by Harmer shortly after. His dismissal came through a delivery that spun back, hitting him low on the pads, with the DRS review confirming the on-field decision.The Pakistan captain's century drought in test cricket continued, with his last hundred dating back to December 2022.Rizwan's dismissal followed quickly as he edged the ball to Tony de Zorzi off Harmer's bowling, leaving Pakistan in trouble with a lead of just 34 runs.

Salman Ali Agha showed some resistance with 28 runs off 42 balls but was eventually bowled by Maharaj. The left-arm spinner then removed Khan with a stumping to end Pakistan's innings and set up South Africa's series-leveling victory.The balanced performance from South Africa's bowling attack, particularly the spinners, proved decisive in achieving their first test victory of the series.