South Africa Win Thriller to Secure WTC Final Spot

Abbas’ remarkable six-wicket haul couldn’t prevent the hosts from clinching victory, as Rabada and Jansen held their nerve to seal the win. South Africa secured their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final with a dramatic two-wicket triumph over Pakistan at SuperSport Park. Chasing a modest target of 148, South Africa found themselves struggling at 99 for 8 just before lunch. It was left to Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen to guide them to the remaining 51 runs, standing firm in a tense ninth-wicket partnership against a fired-up Pakistan attack.

Mohammad Abbas, making a return to the Test side after a three-year absence, delivered an exceptional 19.3-over spell from the Hennops River End, claiming a career-best 6 for 54. However, his efforts were not enough to break Pakistan’s miserable run in South Africa, marking their eighth consecutive Test defeat in the country since 2007. Pakistan had created a glimmer of hope earlier by tearing through South Africa’s middle order, reducing them to 5 for 37, including four wickets for just three runs in 12 balls, leaving the bowlers to carry the weight of the final push.

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Rabada and Jansen’s Resilient Partnership Seals South Africa’s Historic Win

Jansen and Rabada, both capable with the bat, were pushed to their limits in a high-pressure chase. Every ball felt like an event, from the second ball Rabada faced, which he confidently lofted over point for four, to the final delivery, which Jansen delicately steered through point to secure the winning runs. Their contrasting approaches to the chase were evident in these moments: Rabada backed his aggressive instincts, while Jansen remained more conservative, patiently waiting for scoring opportunities. Between them, they offered just one chance, when Rabada, on 12, edged a delivery outside off, but the ball fell short of Mohammad Rizwan.

As the pressure mounted, Rabada and Jansen continued their resilient partnership. Rabada’s edge was eventually found by Abbas when South Africa still needed 28 runs, but he had already struck five boundaries in his 31—a crucial contribution and the third-highest score by a batter at No. 10 or lower in a successful chase. Jansen, normally a nervy character, was composed in defense and then played two exquisite boundaries, the first when he controlled a rising ball from Abbas and the second, a decisive shot, to seal South Africa’s famous win.

In the aftermath, while Rabada and Jansen celebrated on the field, the emotional weight of the victory was felt in the dressing room, where captain Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad shared an embrace. The two had come together at the end of the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle to lead South Africa through this one, and with their qualification for the WTC final, their mission was accomplished.

Bavuma’s Controversial Walk Sparks Drama as South Africa’s Middle Order Struggles

Bavuma must have been a relieved man as he made his way to 40, but his dismissal brought further drama to an already tense match. He walked off the field after what appeared to be an inside edge, accepting the umpire’s decision. However, replays suggested the ball had actually brushed his clothing, and with all three reviews still available, South Africa could have asked for a second opinion. But Bavuma, who had received treatment on his elbow shortly before the dismissal, chose not to review the decision. This left the middle order to complete the job.

This was the second time Bavuma had walked at SuperSport Park, with a similar incident occurring in 2020 against Sri Lanka when he thought he had under-edged Dasun Shanaka. On that occasion, he left the field before the umpire had made a call. This time, umpire Alex Wharf had given Bavuma out, but his decision to walk surprised the South African dressing room, especially with the option to review available. Bavuma’s departure sparked a collapse, as Kyle Verreynne failed to get behind a Naseem Shah delivery, which chopped onto his stumps. The following over saw David Bedingham chase an Abbas ball and get caught behind, with Corbin Bosch repeating the same mistake to hand Abbas his sixth wicket. South Africa had now crumbled from a seemingly comfortable position of 96 for 4, after beginning the day at a precarious 27 for 3.

The morning had started with Bavuma scoring the first runs off the fifth ball, clipping an Abbas half-volley through square leg. Abbas adjusted to a back-of-a-length delivery, and in his next over, thought he had found Bavuma’s edge. Rizwan indicated the ball had brushed Bavuma’s thigh, but Shah Masood reviewed anyway, only for replays to prove Rizwan was correct. Bavuma, then on 5, survived, and shortly afterward, Aiden Markram managed to get a streaky boundary off the edge. Bavuma then hit a clean shot off Khurram Shahzad through mid-on, leaving South Africa with 100 runs to get.

The pressure was mounting, but Bavuma held firm. On the very next ball, he was given out lbw to Shahzad but immediately reviewed, and replays showed an inside edge, allowing him to survive. South Africa managed just three runs off the next 27 balls, but Bavuma eased the pressure with a hook shot off Abbas, which Naseem Shah nearly caught but was carried over the boundary rope by his momentum. Not only did Bavuma avoid falling to a shot that had troubled him earlier in the season, but he also earned six runs, further boosting South Africa’s chances.

Markram and Bavuma’s Resilience Sets the Stage for South Africa’s Victory

To add insult to injury, Markram struck the second ball of Naseem’s next over for four, a stylish shot over extra cover. Fourteen consecutive dot balls followed before Markram’s single brought South Africa to the first drinks break with no further damage, having scored 35 runs in the first hour. However, just three balls after the interval, Markram was bowled by an Abbas delivery that kept low as he attempted to jam his bat down. This ended a 43-run fourth-wicket stand between Bavuma and Markram and brought David Bedingham to the crease, who started with a wristy flick for four. Bavuma followed up with an exquisite cover drive, but the elegant strokes were followed by more risky shots.

Despite struggling with an elbow injury, Bavuma couldn’t resist playing another hook shot, which fortunately fell safely. He then attempted a lofted shot over the covers off Shahzad but was never able to settle into a rhythm. Shortly after, Shahzad thought he had found Bavuma’s outside edge, but replays showed it was pad, not bat. Bavuma faced eight more balls before requiring treatment on his right elbow, but he continued. In the next over, he drove loosely against Abbas and walked off, but his teammates, with enough reserves, saw South Africa across the line. They secured a 1-0 series lead and booked their place at Lord’s for the World Test Championship final, with one more Test against Pakistan to play at Newlands next week.