South Africa qualify for WTC final with two-wicket win over Pakistan

South Africa secured their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final after a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion. Chasing a target of 148 on the fourth day of the first Test, South Africa slumped to 99 for 8 before Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen forged a heroic ninth-wicket partnership to guide their team to victory.  

Rabada and Jansen added 51 runs in a tense stand that kept Pakistan's determined bowlers at bay. Rabada, known for his bowling exploits, showed his batting prowess with a crucial 31, including five boundaries. Jansen, calm under pressure, remained unbeaten and struck the winning runs with a boundary through point.  

Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas was the star with the ball, taking a career-best 6 for 54 in a marathon spell. Returning to the Test side after three years, Abbas kept Pakistan in the game with his disciplined bowling, breaking through South Africa’s top and middle order.  

South Africa started the day at 27 for 3, with Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram tasked with rebuilding the innings. Bavuma scored a gritty 40 but was controversially given out caught behind, despite replays showing the ball had brushed his clothing. The South African captain chose not to review, triggering a collapse that saw them lose four wickets for just three runs.  

Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, and Corbin Bosch fell cheaply as Abbas dismantled the middle order. South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 99 for 8 before Rabada and Jansen turned the tide.  

This defeat marked Pakistan's eighth consecutive Test loss in South Africa, a streak that dates back to 2007. Despite their spirited performance, Pakistan couldn’t break their losing run in the country.  

Pakistan’s batting woes in the first innings set the tone for the game. After being bowled out for 211, they conceded a 90-run lead as South Africa posted 301, powered by Aiden Markram's 89 and Corbin Bosch’s unbeaten 81.  

In the second innings, Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50) fought hard to take Pakistan to 237, but Marco Jansen's six-wicket haul restricted their total and left South Africa needing 148 to win.  

The victory guarantees South Africa a spot in the WTC final at Lord’s next year. With one more Test to play in this series, at Newlands, the hosts will look to seal the series while Pakistan will aim for redemption.  
 

Teams:

South Africa (Playing XI): Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson

Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas