South Africa pulled off a miraculous two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 1st Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion, to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The Boxing Day Test, a rollercoaster of emotions and drama, culminated in a nerve-wracking final session, in which South Africa’s lower order, led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, defied the odds.
Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Mohammad Abbas, were exceptional throughout the match. Abbas finished with figures of 6/48 in the second innings, taking his match tally to 10 wickets. His relentless accuracy and ability to extract movement off the pitch kept South Africa on edge. Naseem Shah also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs, including the dismissal of Kyle Verreynne, which triggered a middle-order collapse.
However, South Africa’s tailenders had other plans. Kagiso Rabada played a counterattacking knock of 30 not out off 25 balls, including five boundaries that oozed class and composure. Marco Jansen provided crucial support with an unbeaten 11 off 22 balls. Together, they stitched an unbroken 49-run partnership for the ninth wicket, steering South Africa to an improbable win. The win earned South Africa a place in the final of the World Test Championship.
This victory against Pakistan marks a significant milestone for South African cricket. After years of heartbreak and near-misses in ICC tournaments, the Proteas have finally earned a shot at the WTC mace.