South Africa have guaranteed their place in next year’s World Test Cup final at Lord’s after a crushing two-wicket victory over Pakistan at Centurion.
Chasing 148 in the series opener, the Proteas slipped from a relative quiet 96-4 to a dangerous 99-8 in 12 balls as Mohammad Abbas ran riot on his Test comeback.
But Marco Janssen (16 not out) and Kagiso Rabada (31 not out) held off some tense moments to stitch together an unbroken 51-run stand either side of lunch on day four that got South Africa over the line.
The Test looked more like the end of a Twenty20 match as the tailbacks succeeded after the hosts slumped before lunch to hand Pakistan their first Test win in 18 years in South Africa.
Rabada, who ranks as the second-best Test bowler, emerged, however, as an unlikely batting hero, while Jansen delivered the winning runs with a classy drive to the boundary amid scenes of delirious celebration.
“Quite an emotional and good advertisement for Test cricket. A bit of joy for us. We did it the hard way, but we’re glad we got the result,” South African captain Temba Bavuma said.
A win for the hosts will see them make their first appearance at the World Test Cup in June, with Australia, India and Sri Lanka all vying to join them at the ‘Home of Cricket’.
Pakistan’s defeat was particularly tough on Abbas, who took international best figures of 6-54 in his first Test appearance since August 2021.
“I’m extremely proud of our effort but as a team going forward we have to be more relentless. We have to take advantage of the moments that Test cricket provides,” said Pakistan captain Shan Masood.
South Africa have now won six consecutive Tests, starting with success in the West Indies in August and following that up with two-Test series victories in Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka last month.
The second and final Test of the series will begin on January 3 at Newlands in Cape Town.
