Here is the updated 2023-2025 World Test Championship points table after New Zealand trounced South Africa in the first Test of the two-match series in Mount Maunganui.

New Zealand climbs to the top on updated WTC points table

Following their 281-run win in the first Test against South Africa, New Zealand jumped the pile to reach the top of the WTC points table. This was their second victory from three games in this cycle of the WTC, taking their points tally to 24 and their points percentage to 66.67.

New Zealand displaced Australia, who had clung to the apex position since clean-sweeping Pakistan 3-0 at home at the start of January. Australia currently sit at the second spot, trailing their Trans-Tasman rivals with six wins, three defeats, a draw, and a points percentage of 55.

A new team top of the #WTC25 standings 🔝

More as New Zealand claim the first #NZvSA Test 📝https://t.co/cLYGUMiZX2

— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2024

South Africa slip to seventh

New Zealand’s ascent also meant India, runners-up of the previous two editions, fell a place to third. South Africa, on the other hand, plunged back to seventh. Separating them are Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the West Indies, in that order.

Playing with a second-string side owing to their first-choice players’ commitment to the ongoing SA20, South Africa were helpless against a full-strength New Zealand squad. They conceded 511 in the first innings virtually making the match one-sided. They have now lost two in a row out of three matches in this cycle and currently have 12 points with a points percentage of 33.33.

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