South Africa defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test match played in Centurion after a thrilling contest.
South Africa needed only 121 runs to win on the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test. The Proteas achieved this target after losing 8 wickets after a thrilling contest. Mohammad Abbas took six wickets in his second innings.
Chasing a target of 148 runs set by Pakistan for victory, South Africa started the second innings on 27 for 3 on the fourth day. On a total score of 62, Mohammad Abbas dismissed Tristan Stubb lbw and then bowled Adam McCrum for 96 to give the national team hope of victory.
The Proteas lost three wickets in a row at a score of 99. First, Mohammad Abbas, with the help of Mohammad Rizwan, sent the opposition captain Timba Bawma to the pavilion on an individual score of 40 before becoming a threat to the pavilion. Abbas also took the wickets of David Bedingham and Corbin Bosh while Naseem Shah bowled Kyle Warne.
South Africa’s score at the lunch break was 116 for 8. Pakistan needed only two wickets to win while the Proteas needed 32 runs.
However, after the lunch break, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jensen did not let any wickets fall and led their team to a two-wicket victory.
Earlier, on the first day of the Boxing Day Test match, South Africa won the toss and decided to field first. The entire Pakistani team was bowled out for 211 runs in the first innings. Kamran Ghulam was outstanding with 54 runs. Proteas’ Dean Pietersen took 5 and Corbin Bosh took 4 wickets.
South Africa scored 301 runs in the first innings to take a lead of 90 runs. Aiden McCrum was the top scorer with 89 runs while Corbin Bosh played an unbeaten innings of 81 runs in the lower order.
For Pakistan, Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah took three wickets each. Aamir Jamal took two wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Saim Ayub took one wicket each.
The national team scored 237 runs in the second innings with the help of vice-captain Saud Shakeel’s 84 and Babar Azam’s 50 runs, setting South Africa a target of 148 runs to win. Proteas pacer Marco Jensen took six wickets.
South Africa has taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. The second and final Test match will be played in Cape Town from January 3.
It should be noted that the two-Test series between South Africa and Pakistan is part of the World Test Championship, the final of which is contested by India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. South Africa’s victory has increased the difficulties for India.
