New Jersey fines firms $40K for sports betting violationsCENTURION: South Africa tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen hung in against relentless fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for a tense two-wicket win in the first test on Sunday to seal the Proteas' place in next year's World Test Championship final . ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Jansen (16 not out) overshadowed Abbas' brilliant figures of 6-54 with a square driven boundary against the fast bowler as South Africa reached 150-8 just after lunch on Day 4 and escaped with a close win in the opener of the two-match series. "Quite an emotional moment for me, good advert for test cricket," said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma , who made 40. "We haven't been ruthless but have found a way to ensure the result was on our side. Lot of joy and happiness on our side, a bit of a rollercoaster, glad that we were able to get the result." Abbas, making a comeback after more than three years in the test wilderness, had knocked back South Africa's tricky chase of 148 runs in a marathon 13-over spell before lunch on Day 4 as the home team limped to 99-8, losing four wickets for three runs. However, Rabada changed gears in an unbroken 51-run stand with Jansen and made an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls with five fours to seal a memorable victory and denied Pakistan its first test win in South Africa in almost 18 years. 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But since then the Proteas have beaten West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay on top of the table. "It (WTC final) is a big one, not just for myself but also the team and the coach," Bavuma said. "The way we started our campaign, against India and then New Zealand with a not-so-strong team, and the way we have gone through with our performances, not many gave us a chance." India, Australia and Sri Lanka are the other teams still in contention for next June's WTC final against South Africa at Lord's. Captain Temba Bavuma (40) and Aiden Markram (37) had thwarted Abbas for an hour after South Africa resumed at a wobbly 27-3, still needing 121 for victory. Bavuma's controversial dismissal punctuated a South Africa collapse in the latter half of first session with Abbas grabbing three off his six balls in a sensational home team collapse. Bavuma, who made 40, surprisingly didn't request a television review when replays suggested that Abbas' ball had brushed the batter's pocket and didn't make contact with the inside edge of the bat but the South African skipper walked back to the dressing room. Abbas bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 13 overs, but had to wait as Markram and Bavuma saw off eight overs from the fast bowlers. Resuming at 27-3, Bavuma and Markram showed plenty of patience against Abbas' probing line and length before the fast bowler finally got the breakthrough after the first drinks break. Abbas was rewarded for his brilliant seam bowling when he beat the outside edge of Markram's bat and knocked back the off stump. Bavuma survived a couple of close chances when he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision against him early in the day and Naseem Shah couldn't hold onto a sharp catch at fine leg as he overstepped the boundary cushion while grabbing the ball over his head. South Africa had controlled the game at 96-4 before Bavuma's dismissal saw Abbas finding the outside edges of David Bedingham (14) and Corbin Bosch's (0) bat off successive deliveries and in between Kyle Verreynne dragged Naseem Shah's delivery back onto his stumps. Abbas found the outside edge of Rabada's bat in his first over after lunch that fell just short of wicketkeeper Rizwan before both tailenders took the team home. "Extremely proud of the efforts, but going forward we need to be ruthless," Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. "We keep making the same mistakes but we have to get over the line, seize moments." The second test begins at Cape Town on Friday. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
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As the cost of living crisis persists, there are a number schemes to help you live more comfortably in 2025. These payments, freebies and discounts are designed to help your money go further and are worth considering as we go into the new year. The new year will usher in a new energy price cap, with customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus facing bills exceeding £1,700 for the first quarter of the year. However, schemes are available to assist with balancing the books. Cash-strapped households can optimise their finances and ensure their budgets stretch further thanks to several Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) initiatives. Some of these are accessible even to those not claiming benefits. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Here are seven strategies to increase your income and ensure you have more cash on hand to navigate whatever the new year brings: Household Support Fund - up to £500 The Household Support Fund (HSF) offers financial assistance to households in difficulty and has been extended multiple times since its introduction by the previous Conservative Party government in 2021. The funds, totalling £421 million, are allocated to local councils for distribution to those most in need within their communities, reports Birmingham Live . Depending on your location, assistance could come in the form of direct cash transfers, shopping vouchers or other means to aid with bills and other expenses. You can find out what your local council is offering by visiting their website. However, be aware that it's somewhat of a postcode lottery. The highest payments recorded in some local authority areas reach up to £500. Energy hardship schemes - up to £2,000 Several energy companies offer grants to customers facing financial difficulties to help cover their bill costs, including British Gas, Scottish Power and EDF. The British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) provides support to families and individuals experiencing hardship who are struggling with energy debts. The British Gas Energy Trust, which includes the Scottish Gas Energy Trust, is an independent charitable Trust funded solely by donations from British Gas. The Trust's mission is to assist those in financial difficulty, particularly focusing on energy debt. The trust awards grants to clear gas and electricity debts for families and individuals experiencing hardship. This significantly impacts thousands of people each year, helping them regain their footing and maintain a debt-free life moving forward. Additionally, the trust funds organisations across England, Wales and Scotland to provide fuel debt and money advice services within communities. Help with water bills - up to £1,000 If you're living on a tight budget, exploring social tariffs with your water supplier is definitely worth the effort. These special rates can slash your water bill by hundreds of pounds annually. Depending on the company, you might qualify for either a percentage-based discount or a fixed rate. Additionally, if you're already receiving a council tax reduction, you could be eligible for an even lower water rate. While savings vary, one individual received a refund exceeding £1,000 through this initiative. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water offers a social tariff called HelpU to help low-income households with their water bills. Assistance with phone and broadband - up to £227 Low-income families might be surprised to learn that they're eligible for affordable broadband and mobile phone plans. Several providers offer these "social tariffs" to households receiving specific benefits, which can lead to substantial savings. Generally, these tariffs are available to those on qualifying benefits, such as Universal Credit, and are significantly cheaper than standard broadband packages. Prices start at £12 for mobile contracts and £12.50 for broadband plans. Take BT's Home Essentials package, for instance. This social tariff starts at £15 per month, whereas their standard tariffs begin at £33.99. By opting for the social tariff, you could pocket a £227.88 annual saving. Warm Home Discount - £150 The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a one-time £150 reduction on your electricity bill. If you qualify, the discount will be applied directly to your bill by your electricity provider. The money is not given to you directly. Typically, if you're eligible, the discount is applied automatically. However, if you're on a low income in Scotland, you'll need to apply through your energy supplier. If you receive both gas and electricity from your supplier and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply the discount to your gas bill instead. Contact your supplier for more information. Winter Fuel Payment - £300 If you were born before September 23 1958, you could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment of either £200 or £300 to help cover your heating costs for winter 2024 to 2025. Eligibility may depend on whether you or your partner receive certain benefits. Please note that the additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - provided in 2022 and 2023 - stopped in winter 2023. Eligible individuals will receive a letter in October or November detailing the amount they will receive. If you don't receive a letter but believe you're eligible, check if you need to make a claim. Payments are typically made in November or December for most eligible people. Cold Weather Payments - £25 You may be entitled to Cold Weather Payments if you're receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. These payments are made automatically if you're eligible, so there's no need to apply. However, you may need to inform Jobcentre Plus if you have a newborn or if a child under five comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits. You'll receive a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You'll receive £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 2024 and March 31 2025.