New Delhi: Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen held nerves to pull off a low-scoring chase for South Africa in the first Test match against Pakistan on Sunday at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The hosts won by two wickets in a nail-biting match to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. With this moment, South Africa became the first team to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas turned into the tormentor for the Proteas with his exuberance in the movement. He was right on his money after dismissing Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs at the end of the third day.
𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙈𝙀𝘿 🇿🇦
South Africa are headed to Lord’s for the #WTC25 Final 🤩 #SAvPAK ➡ https://t.co/vWLh4MSQjm pic.twitter.com/sZ5QBnDAYD
— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2024
With South Africa resuming the fourth day at 27 for 3 with opener Aiden Markram, who missed on his century in the first innings, stepping on the crease with captain Bavuma. The duo were on the task of putting the runs on the scorecard as Bavuma hit through the square in the first over of the day when Abbas offered him a half-volley on the leg-stump.
Bavuma and Markram didn’t let Abbas settle in the early phase as the boundaries came in succession with the South African skipper getting a six off his bowling, though a catch opportunity by Naseem Shah wasn’t pounced upon.
Abbas had his breakthrough after crashing into the stumps of Markram as the ball was kept low and the Proteas opener missed to play within the accurate line. Bavuma was unperturbed with Markram’s removal and continued to steer the chase by hammering a couple of fours off Khurram Shahzad.
His fight ended after nicking off an length delivery from Abbas as the ball came in. Bavuma went for the heave only to give a regulation keeping catch to Rizwan behind the wickets. Naseem Shah cleaned up wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne after the later found an inside edge which crashed onto his stumps.
Abbas dismissed David Bedingham and Corbin Bosch on successive deliveries to
South Africa defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test in Centurion. The Temba Bavuma-led side is the first to book a berth in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-24. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
