South Africa edged out Pakistan in a dramatic two-wicket victory on the fourth day of the first Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The thrilling Test match saw South Africa secure their place in the ICC World Test Championship final, scheduled for next year at Lord’s.
Rabada and Jansen Seal the Win
Chasing 150 for victory, South Africa resumed their innings on 27 for three, needing 121 more runs. The match appeared to tilt in Pakistan’s favor when Mohammad Abbas, making a remarkable return after three years, delivered a stellar performance. Abbas struck twice in a single over, reducing the hosts to 101 for seven.
With South Africa on the brink of collapse, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen formed a match-winning 51-run partnership. Rabada’s unbeaten 31 off 26 balls, including five boundaries, and Jansen’s composed 16 off 24 balls with three fours, carried their team over the line.
Abbas Shines Despite Defeat
Mohammad Abbas was the standout bowler for Pakistan, finishing with remarkable figures of six for 54 in South Africa’s second innings. Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah chipped in with a wicket each, but the effort fell just short.
South Africa’s Resilient Middle Order
Earlier in the day, Temba Bavuma (40 off 78 balls, including four fours and a six) and Aiden Markram (37 off 63 balls with six boundaries) stitched together a crucial 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their contributions steadied the South African innings after early blows from the Pakistani bowlers.
Pakistan’s Battling Effort
Pakistan batted valiantly in both innings but struggled against South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack. In the first innings, Kamran Ghulam top-scored with 54, while Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Rizwan contributed 28 and 27, respectively. Dane Peterson and Corbin Bosch dominated with the ball, sharing nine wickets between them.
In the second innings, Saud Shakeel led the charge with a gritty 84, supported by captain Babar Azam’s 50. Despite their efforts, Marco Jansen’s six-wicket haul restricted Pakistan to 237, setting South Africa a manageable target of 150.
South Africa’s First-Innings Lead
South Africa’s first innings total of 301 gave them an early advantage. Aiden Markram’s commanding 89 and Corbin Bosch’s unbeaten 81 were instrumental in building the lead. Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah claimed three wickets each for Pakistan, while Aamir Jamal picked up two.
Read:Â South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test: Day 3 Highlights and Scores
What’s Next
With this win, South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The teams will now head to Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, for the second Test, starting on January 3.
Score Summary
- Pakistan: 211 all out (Kamran Ghulam 54; Dane Peterson 5-61) and 237 all out (Saud Shakeel 84; Marco Jansen 6-52)
- South Africa: 301 all out (Aiden Markram 89; Khurram Shahzad 3-75) and 150-8 (Kagiso Rabada 31*; Mohammad Abbas 6-54)
This nail-biter in Centurion showcases the beauty of Test cricket, keeping fans at the edge of their seats until the final ball.
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