South Africa beat Pakistan in the first test to seal WTC Final spot

Grassroots Cricket|

South Africa secured their place in the ICC World Test Championship final with a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at SuperSport Park.

The ninth-wicket stand between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen guided the hosts to a win, chasing 148 on day 4. The duo displayed remarkable composure and counterattacked effectively, adding 51 crucial runs for the ninth wicket to take South Africa over the line.

With South Africa teetering at 99 for 8 just before lunch, Abbas appeared set to lead Pakistan to a famous victory.

Set 148 to win, South Africa’s top order faltered under pressure, with Abbas wreaking havoc early in the innings. Pakistan’s bowlers kept chipping away.

This defeat marked Pakistan’s ninth consecutive Test loss in South Africa, a streak that dates back to 2007. With this victory, South Africa have secured their spot in the World Test Championship final, set to be played at Lord’s in 2025.

 

Scores in brief:

 

Pakistan: 211 & 237

South Africa: 301 & 150/8

 

Player of the match: Aiden Markram