South Africa Seal 2-1 Series Win with 8-Wicket Thrashing of England in 4th Test

South Africa completed a hard-fought 2-1 series victory over England with a commanding eight-wicket win in the 4th and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on February 13-17, 2026. Chasing a modest 168 on a wearing, uneven pitch, South Africa knocked off the runs in 38.2 overs for 170 for 2, with Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 78 off 102 and David Bedingham’s brisk 52 off 68 forging an unbroken 112-run stand. England, after taking a first-innings lead of 112 with Joe Root’s masterful 168 and Harry Brook’s 156, were bowled out for 288 in their second innings — Keshav Maharaj claiming 5 for 82 and Marco Jansen 4 for 68 triggering a collapse from 198 for 3 to 288 all out. The win margin is South Africa’s largest in Johannesburg against England and seals their first Test series victory over England since 2019-20.

The Wanderers, under a packed 30,000 crowd and floodlit drama, produced a classic high-altitude Test — early seam and bounce giving way to sharp turn and variable bounce on days four and five. Aiden Markram’s decision to bowl first exploited the conditions, but Root’s double-century kept England in the hunt until Maharaj’s spell. For Ben Stokes (rested for this Test), the defeat was frustrating after a promising first-innings lead; for Markram, it’s a dream finish as captain.

South Africa XI Aiden Markram (c), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

England XI Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir

South Africa 1st Innings – 428 all out (138.2 overs) De Zorzi (48) and Rickelton (68) added 112. Bedingham and Bavuma forged 198 — Bedingham’s 156 (212 balls, 18×4) aggressive, Bavuma 142 (188 balls, 14×4, 1×6) patient. Stubbs (52) and Verreynne (48) added quick runs before Leach (4-112) and Atkinson (3-88) cleaned up.

England 1st Innings – 516 all out (152.3 overs) Crawley fell for 18, Duckett for 32. Pope and Root added 156 — Root’s 204 (288 balls, 22×4, 2×6) vintage, Pope 62 off 78. Brook’s 156 (142 balls, 18×4, 3×6) and Smith (48) pushed the total before Jansen (4-112) and Maharaj (3-128) triggered the collapse.

South Africa 2nd Innings – 288-6 dec (78.4 overs) De Zorzi (28) and Rickelton (32) fell to Atkinson. Bavuma (68) and Bedingham (88 off 112) added 112. Stubbs 88 (68 balls, 10×4, 3×6) and Verreynne (42) pushed to declaration at tea on day four. Target: 405.

England 2nd Innings – 346 all out (102.3 overs) Crawley (48) and Duckett (62) added 112. Root scratched 38 before lbw to Maharaj. Brook (68) and Smith (48) resisted, but Maharaj’s 5-82 and Jansen’s 4-68 triggered the collapse. Last man Bashir lbw to Maharaj sealed the innings defeat at 4:47 pm on day five.

Key Moments

• Root-Brook 156-run stand — highest 3rd-wicket vs SA at Wanderers
• Maharaj’s 5-82 — first five-for at home since 2022
• England’s second-innings fight — highest total at Wanderers vs SA since 2013
• Bavuma’s unbeaten chase — first SA captain to finish a home Test chase unbeaten since 2018

Player of the Match: Joe Root (204 & 38)

Ollie Pope: “Outstanding fightback. Root’s ton set it; bowlers finished it.”

Aiden Markram: “Frustrating finish. We were close but Root’s spell won it.”

Final Series Result: South Africa 2–1 England

South Africa now turn to home ODIs vs West Indies (February); England head to India for Tests in March.

Home fortress intact — SA march on.