Aiden Markram was the Player of the Match for his efforts with the bat, as the Proteas beat Pakistan on Sunday by two wickets. | AFP
SOUTH AFRICA v PAKISTAN – First Test
Pakistan: 211 and 237
South Africa: 301 and 150/8
Temba Bavuma 40; Mohammad Abbas 6/54
South Africa won by two wickets
From the jaws of defeat – which was itself an almost unspeakable situation they found themselves in – South Africa snatched victory away from Pakistan at SuperSport Park, to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final at Lord's next year.
As stated by captain Temba Bavuma in the post-match interview after securing the win, “it’s going to be a bad day for a beer,” as the Proteas celebrate their remarkable achievement on Sunday and Monday.
Who would've thought that a Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen partnership would lead South Africa to victory with bat in hand?
𝙁![CDATA[]]>𝙄![CDATA[]]>𝙍![CDATA[]]>𝙎![CDATA[]]>𝙏 𝙁![CDATA[]]>𝙄![CDATA[]]>𝙉![CDATA[]]>𝘼![CDATA[]]>𝙇![CDATA[]]>𝙄![CDATA[]]>𝙎![CDATA[]]>𝙏 𝘾![CDATA[]]>𝙊![CDATA[]]>𝙉![CDATA[]]>𝙁![CDATA[]]>𝙄![CDATA[]]>𝙍![CDATA[]]>𝙈![CDATA[]]>𝙀![CDATA[]]>𝘿 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦
— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2024
South Africa are headed to Lord's for the #WTC25 Final 🤩 #SAvPAK ➡ https://t.co/vWLh4MSQjm pic.twitter.com/sZ5QBnDAYD
The two combined for a 51-run, ninth wicket partnership to lead South Africa to an nervy victory, one that saw the Proteas take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series against Pakistan in Centurion. The New Year’s test in Cape Town now awaits, and beyond that a trip to London to face either Australia or India in the WTC final in June next year.
Having come in to bat with South Africa in trouble with the score on 99/8, following a collapse from the top-order, one that saw Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch lose their wickets in a space of 11 deliveries, Rabada and Jansen got stuck in to see the team over the line.
Pakistan seamer, Mohammad Abbas, who decimated the Proteas before lunch on Day 4 of the first Test, could not make further inroads to help dismiss the remaining batters in Rabada, Jansen and Dane Paterson. Nevertheless, Abbas put in a thrilling and Herculean spell through the day’s play to drap Pakistan agonisingly close to what would have been a brilliant win.
𝐒![CDATA[]]>𝐎![CDATA[]]>𝐔![CDATA[]]>𝐓![CDATA[]]>𝐇 𝐀![CDATA[]]>𝐅![CDATA[]]>𝐑![CDATA[]]>𝐈![CDATA[]]>𝐂![CDATA[]]>𝐀 𝐖![CDATA[]]>𝐈![CDATA[]]>𝐍 𝐁![CDATA[]]>𝐘 𝟐 𝐖![CDATA[]]>𝐈![CDATA[]]>𝐂![CDATA[]]>𝐊![CDATA[]]>𝐄![CDATA[]]>𝐓![CDATA[]]>𝐒 🤩
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 29, 2024
It's been nothing but brilliant from Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦
📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/HHGy3Wh7M7
The 34-year-old finished with figures of 6/54, adding to his one wicket from the first innings. Fast bowlers, Naseem Shah (1/34) and Khurram Shahzad (1/47) also provided good assistance to Abbas, as the 34-year-old held an end for the entire the first session as Pakistan gave South Africa a fright at SuperSport Park.
However, their impressive performances were just not enough to deny South Africa the victory – Jansen caressing a four behind square to seal the win – and most importantly the spot in the World Test Championship final.
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