South Africa clinched a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test match on Sunday at Centurion’s SuperSport Park, securing their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Despite Mohammad Abbas’s sensational six-wicket haul, Pakistan fell agonizingly short as South Africa’s tailenders, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, staged a remarkable comeback. The pair displayed remarkable composure under pressure, forging a match-winning 51-run partnership to guide their team from a precarious 99/8 to victory.
The dramatic final day began with South Africa resuming their innings at 27/3, with Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma at the crease. Chasing a modest target of 148, the duo extended their overnight partnership to 43 runs before Abbas struck again, dismissing Markram for a well-made 37 off 63 balls, which included six boundaries.
Despite Pakistan’s spirited fightback, South Africa managed to hold their nerve in a nail-biting finish, leaving the visitors to rue missed opportunities.