South Africa advance to WTC final as Pakistan lose Boxing Day Test by 2 wickets

South Africa became the first team to secure a place in the ICC World Test Championship final for the 2023-25 ​​cycle after a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test in Centurion on Sunday.

Chasing 148 runs, South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 99 for eight.

However, a resilient ninth-wicket partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen saw the hosts to victory, with both players remaining unbeaten to guide the team home.

With the win, South Africa moved up to 88 points from 11 matches, taking their points percentage (PCT) to 66.67. They now lead the points ahead of Australia (58.89) and India (55.89), who are tied 1-1 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Earlier, Mohammad Abbas marked an impressive return to international cricket with a devastating spell on the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

By lunch on Sunday, South Africa were 116/8, needing 32 more runs to avoid defeat and Pakistan needing just two wickets.

South Africa resumed their innings on 27/3, with Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma leading the charge in pursuit of a modest target of 148.

The pair extended their partnership to 43 runs before Abbas achieved the feat, dismissing Markram for 37. The right-hander faced 63 balls, hitting six boundaries before Abbas uprooted his stumps.

Abbas struck again soon after, removing Bavuma for 40, which proved to be the top score for South Africa. Bavuma faced 78 balls, hitting four fours and a six.

In the very next over, Pakistan’s Naseem Shah joined the attack, dismissing batsman Kyle Verreynne for just two runs. With the score at 90/6, Abbas was in full flow, claiming two more wickets in consecutive balls.

David Bedingham fell on 14 and debutant Corbin Boss was sent back for a duck, leaving South Africa in a precarious position at 99/8.

Despite the collapse, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada put up a valiant fight, adding 17 runs before the break to leave South Africa at 116/8. Jansen was on five and Rabada was unbeaten on 10.

At lunch, Pakistan were in control, with Abbas claiming six wickets so far. Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad also claimed a wicket each and the visitors are now just two wickets away from completing a remarkable turnaround.