Kagiso Rabada turned batting hero as he and Marco Jansen took South Africa to a dramatic two-wicket win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Sunday. Needing 148 to win, South Africa crashed to 99 for eight against superb bowling by Mohammad Abbas. The 34-year-old Abbas took a career-best six for 54. But Rabada, so often a match-winner as a bowler, went on the attack as a batsman, hitting an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls, while Jansen provided solid support in making 16 not out.

Abbas bowled unchanged for 19.3 overs — four of them on Saturday when he took his first two wickets — in a spell of unremitting accuracy on a pitch which gave seam bowlers help throughout the match.

It was a remarkable comeback for Abbas, whose previous Test appearance was against the West Indies in Kingston in August 2021.

But it was not quite enough for Pakistan, seeking their first win in South Africa in 18 years.

The result ensured qualification for South Africa in the final of the World Test championship final in England next year.

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma batted solidly at the start of the day after resuming on 27 for three.

Markram and Bavuma put on 43 for the fourth wicket, with Bavuma surviving on 14 — and getting six runs — when he hooked Abbas to fine leg, where Naseem Shah stepped over the boundary in catching the ball.

Markram looked secure but was bowled by Abbas for 37 by a virtually unplayable ball which kept low and seamed back off the pitch.

Bavuma and David Bedingham added another 34 runs until Bavuma uncharacteristically charged down the pitch at Abbas and was given out caught behind for 40.

He walked off immediately but Ultra Edge technology showed the only ‘spike’ was when the ball brushed his trouser pocket.

It was the first of four wickets which fell for three runs in 12 balls.

Naseem Shah bowled Kyle Verreynne and Abbas had Bedingham and Corbin Bosch caught behind off successive deliveries.

Rabada and Jansen saw South Africa through to lunch at 116 for eight — then polished off the match in just 5.3 overs after the interval, with each stroke cheered by the home spectators.

Pakistan opening bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad struck three blows late on the third afternoon as South Africa set out in pursuit of 148 runs to win the first Test at SuperSport Park on Saturday. South Africa were reeling at 27 for three at the close, 121 runs short of a victory which would clinch them a place in the World Test championship final in England next June. Abbas took two wickets for three runs in four immaculate overs of swing bowling, dismissing Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, while Shahzad trapped Ryan Rickelton.

Aiden Markram, South Africa’s top scorer in the first innings, was unbeaten on 22 going into what could be a nervy fourth day for the hosts.

All three wickets were leg before wicket decisions – and all three were reviewed.

De Zorzi batted outside his crease in an attempt to counter the swing which undid him in the first innings – but Abbas beat his inside edge and he was given out.

He reviewed umpire Alex Wharf‘s decision but replays showed the impact was “umpire’s call”, with the ball going on to hit the stumps, and he had to go for two runs.

Rickelton failed to score before he was trapped by Shahzad and Stubbs made one before falling to Abbas – with Pakistan successfully reviewing on both occasions after the batsmen were initially given not out.

It was a dramatic end to a day on which the start was delayed by three hours because of rain.

South Africa seemed well on target for victory when Pakistan were bowled out for 237, with left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen taking six for 52.

Saud Shakeel made 84 for Pakistan.

Resuming at 88 for three, Babar Azam and the left-handed Shakeel batted confidently, adding another 65 runs in 14.5 overs.

Babar made 50, his first half-century in 19 Test innings, before Jansen had a burst of three wickets in 14 balls, starting when Babar slapped a short ball from Jansen to deep point.

Shakeel was ninth man out when he missed a full toss from Jansen after hitting 10 fours and a six in a 113-ball innings.

Debutant Corbin Bosch hit 81 not out and left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen claimed two late wickets as South Africa took control on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Friday. Bosch, batting at number nine, enabled South Africa to take a 90-run first innings lead — and the bowlers made it count by taking three wickets before Pakistan could wipe out the deficit. Pakistan finished the day on 88 for three — still two runs behind. South Africa would qualify for next year’s World Test Championship final for the first time with a victory in either match of this two-Test series.

The contest was evenly poised when opening batsman Aiden Markram was eighth man out for 89 with South Africa on 213 for eight — just two runs ahead of Pakistan’s first innings total of 211.

Four South African wickets had fallen for 35 runs either side of lunch, with Naseem Shah taking three in a fiery spell, and it seemed probable the sides would start the second innings almost on level terms.

But Bosch, who has a first-class batting average above 40, batted with freedom and a wide variety of strokes as he shared stands of 41 with Kagiso Rabada (13) and 47 with Dane Paterson (12) to turn a narrow lead into a substantial one.

Bosch hit 15 fours in a 93-ball innings.

It was the continuation of a remarkable debut for Bosch, 30, who took four for 63 in the first innings and was clocked at 147kmh, the fastest of any bowler in the match.

Bosch, whose Test cricketer father Tertius died when Corbin was five years old, was low on the list of potential Test fast bowlers at the start of the season.

But a lengthy list of injuries to bigger-name players, as well as good recent form, opened the door for him.

Bosch shared the new ball with Kagiso Rabada at the start of Pakistan’s second innings but did not take a wicket and left the field at the end of a three-over stint.

Saim Ayub and Shan Masood, who both made 28, put on 49 for the first wicket before Rabada bowled Ayub.

Jansen followed up by having Masood caught at third slip and first innings top-scorer Kamran Ghulam caught at gully for eight before bad light stopped play.

Pakistan bounced back by the end of play on Day 1 during the first Test vs South Africa.© AFP

Debutant Corbin Bosch became only the fifth South African bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of his Test career for the Proteas on Thursday. The right-arm quick made his Test debut for South Africa in the series opener against Pakistan in Centurion. He was introduced in the 15th over to break up Pakistan’s opening partnership of Saim Ayub and skipper Shan Masood. With Masood looking resolute in his approach, Bosch’s first Test delivery turned both his and South Africa’s wish into reality. He pitched the ball up and caught Masood off-guard just after the drinks break.

Masood’s concentration seemed to lapse as he attempted a drive on a delivery he had previously left alone. With a loose shot, the Pakistan skipper offered a thick outside edge, which flew into Marco Jansen’s hands at gully.

With a wicket off the first ball of his Test career, Bosch joined an exclusive club that includes Bert Vogler (against England, Johannesburg, 1906), Dane Piedt (against Zimbabwe, Harare, 2014), Hardus Viljoen (against England, Johannesburg, 2016), and Tshepo Moreki (against New Zealand, Mount Maunganui, 2024).

Notably, of the 25 instances of bowlers taking a wicket off the first ball of a career, three have occurred in 2024, the most in a calendar year.

Before Bosch, West Indies young gun Shamar Joseph claimed Steven Smith’s wicket with a peach of a delivery on his first ball at the Adelaide Oval in January. South Africa’s Tshepo Moreki dismissed New Zealand’s Devon Conway at Mount Maunganui in February.

Bosch went on to claim his second scalp of the day, dismissing Pakistan’s vice-captain Saud Shakeel. Masood’s deputy looked eager to score runs from the moment he arrived at the crease.

His desire for quick runs cost him his wicket. He shuffled across his stumps to find the right angle for his shot but ran out of room. The ball gained elevation after bouncing off the surface, leaving Shakeel cramped for space. It deflected off his glove to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.