Bavuma Cautiously Optimistic as Proteas Near Lord's Test Final

South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, expressed cautious optimism after his team secured a series sweep against Sri Lanka, moving them closer to a potential spot in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in 2025. Despite their strong position, Bavuma emphasised that the job is not yet done. 

The Proteas’ 109-run victory in Gqeberha propelled them to the top of the Championship standings. With two Tests remaining in the current cycle, a single victory in their upcoming home series against Pakistan would guarantee their place in the final. Bavuma, however, remained focused, stating the team’s priority is to sustain their strong form. 

Named Player of the Series after scoring 327 runs in four innings, Bavuma acknowledged the collective effort behind the team’s success. Contributions came from Tristan Stubbs with 187 runs, Marco Jansen’s 14 wickets, and Keshav Maharaj’s nine dismissals. Bavuma highlighted the challenging nature of the series, which tested his players’ resilience across five days of intense cricket. 

For Sri Lanka, the series marked a missed opportunity to strengthen their chances of reaching the final. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva praised his team’s determination but noted that critical errors proved costly. Sri Lanka now faces an uphill battle, needing to win both their remaining matches against Australia, while depending on other results to go their way. 

Both teams remain in the hunt for a place at Lord’s, but Bavuma’s Proteas are firmly in control of their destiny.