South Africa secured a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan on the fourth day of the opening Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Chasing a target of 148 runs in the final innings, the Proteas were under pressure, slipping to 99 for eight before recovering to reach 150 for eight.
The win was sealed by a determined, unbeaten 51-run partnership between all-rounder Marco Jansen and tail-ender Kagiso Rabada for the ninth wicket.
Earlier in the match, Jansen and fellow seamer Dane Paterson had dominated with the ball. Jansen claimed a remarkable six-wicket haul, while Paterson took five wickets.
On the batting front, Aiden Markram and debutant Corbin Bosch both scored over 80 runs, with Markram being named Player of the Match for his contributions of 89 and 37 runs.
This victory marked a significant achievement for South Africa, extending their winning streak to six consecutive Test victories, following triumphs in the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the win secured the Proteas’ place in the final of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC), set to take place at Lord’s in London in June 2025.
Alongside South Africa, Australia, India, and Sri Lanka are competing for a spot in the final, while England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies are out of contention.
For Pakistan, the defeat was particularly disappointing, as they have not won a Test series in South Africa since 2007.
Despite a courageous effort from fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who produced a career-best 6-54 performance in his first Test appearance since August 2021, Pakistan could not close out the match.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood expressed pride in his team’s efforts but emphasised the need for greater ruthlessness in future matches, acknowledging the importance of seizing key moments in Test cricket.
The series now moves to Cape Town, where the second and final Test will take place at Newlands starting on January 3, 2025.
For South Africa, the victory was a testament to their resilience. Captain Temba Bavuma reflected on the emotional rollercoaster of the win, saying, “It was a good advert for Test cricket.”
“A lot of joy and happiness for us but a bit of a rollercoaster. We did it the hard way but we’re glad to be able to get the result,” he added.
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