The South African team has leapfrogged New Zealand and England to take the second position in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings after sweeping their home series against Pakistan 3-0. The Proteas have gained four points to reach 110 points, two points more than England in the list where the Indian team is standing the numero uno position with 116 points already under their belt after their 2-1 victory over Australia in a four-match series that ended last week.
Pakistan has witnessed a drop in their position, slipping behind Sri Lanka to seventh place. Pakistan started the series with 92 points but are now on 88 points, three points less than Sri Lanka.
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New Zealand are one point behind England at 107 points. England will have to win their upcoming three-match series against the Windies starting on 23 January to remain ahead of New Zealand.
BREAKING: With a 3-0 series win, South Africa leapfrog England and New Zealand into second in the @MRFWorldwide Test Team Rankings!
Pakistan slide one place below Sri Lanka into seventh.
➡️ https://t.co/fxzHpMKFXg pic.twitter.com/0qc0QICEjy
— ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2019
Duanne Olivier, who has been phenomenal throughout the series, ignited the Pakistan collapse as South Africa completed a series clean sweep with a 107-run win on the fourth day of the third and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Monday. Starting the day on 153 for three, Pakistan lost their remaining seven wickets for 120 runs to be bowled out for 273 in a chase of 381, ceding a series whitewash to a dominant South Africa. Dale Steyn, who didn’t share the spoils on day four, finished with his two top-order scalps from the previous day, while Vernon Philander had one.
With the win, Dean Elgar thus had his first win as captain, in his second game in charge. Quinton de Kock, who made 129 for South Africa in the second innings and seven catches behind the stumps, was named as the man of the match. while Olivier was chosen Player of the Series.
