Proteas seal World Test Championship final berth with nervy victory over Pakistan

South Africa reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) after defeating Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Sunday by two wickets on day four of the first of a two-match Test series.

The win takes South Africa’s percentage points to an unassailable 66.67. Even if they lose their next match at Newlands against the same opposition, no other side can pass them.

In true Proteas fashion, they made what looked for a long time to be a walk in the park seem like a run through a dangerous forest.

After starting the day on 27 for the loss of three wickets, South Africa, at one point, needed 52 runs to win with six wickets in hand. They then lost four wickets while adding only two runs in an incredible 15-minute collapse.

An outstanding rearguard batting display by Kagiso Rabada (31 off 36) and Marco Jansen (16 off 24), who combined for 51 off 50, the highest partnership of the innings, guided the Proteas to victory.

Captain of South Africa Temba Bavuma on day four of the first Test against Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion. (Photo: Christiaan Kotze / Gallo Images)

Just a few minutes before their coming together, Temba Bavuma (40 off 78), David Bedingham (14 off 14), Kyle Verreynne (two off six) and Corbin Bosch (zero off one) all fell victim to an inspired spell of bowling by Mohammad Abbas.

The 35-year-old bowled every over available from the Hennops River end in South Africa’s innings — a mammoth 19.3-over spell, with four in the evening of day three and 15.3 on the trot, in the heat, in the morning session of day four.

In that mesmerising spell, he bowled three maidens, conceded 45 runs and took four wickets to go with the two scalps he had overnight.

Mohammad Abbas celebrates as he bowls out Aiden Markram for 37 runs. (Photo: Christiaan Kotze / Gallo Images)

Abbas dismissed both set batters, first Aiden Markram (37 off 63) and then Bavuma, although replays suggested that Bavuma had not edged the ball but that it had struck his right pocket before being caught behind.

Bavuma did not review the decision. If he had, he would probably have put paid to all the drama that unfolded later, as his wicket started the mid-innings slump.

It was left to Jansen and Rabada, who met in the middle with the team on 99 with eight wickets down, requiring a further 49 runs.

Every run accumulated by Jansen and Rabada was cheered by the SuperSport Park crowd. Leaves and forward defences were treated like fours and sixes by the appreciative smattering of spectators.

Chants of “KG! KG! KG!” began to ring around the stadium when he clubbed Aamer Jamal for a delightful, elegant cover drive to take the required amount from eight to four.

Jansen’s final boundary saw the crowd of around 5,500 jump up in jubilation.

Bathroom break

Luckily for Rabada and Jansen, when Pakistan and Abbas were smelling blood, the lunch break came to allow the batters some time to overcome their nerves.

The Proteas were on 116 for eight at that point. Where was Bavuma at that stage, having initiated the collapse?

“I was in the toilet,” said Bavuma. “I was sulking, I didn’t know what to say to the batters, Marco and KG.”

Instead, Jansen and Rabada spoke to head coach Shukri Conrad.

“Myself, Marco and KG share one thing in common and it’s a vice of ours,” said Conrad at the post-match press conference.

“So when we were sitting in our little corner at the back there, all I said to them was, ‘Whatever decision you’re going to take as to how you’re going to go about your business, go throughout. If we get close, I don’t want you to then go fiddling about but to back yourselves, however you want to play it from the start, balls to the wall’.”

That’s exactly what they did, with Rabada striking five sweet boundaries at a strike rate touching 120.

Jansen was more sedate, scoring just three in his innings.

It wasn’t the finest display of Test cricket — outside of stunning first innings 80s by Saud Shakeel and Aiden Markram as well as brilliant late bowling by Pakistan on the evening of day three — but it was the sort of match the Proteas Test side have been winning.

“As much as we’re in a position to be in the final, we haven’t been super dominant in our performances,” said Bavuma after the match.

“We definitely haven’t been clinical or ruthless when the opportunity or the situation has [arisen]. But we’ve found ways to make sure the result is on our side.”

Nonetheless, the side have won seven of their 11 WTC matches and are headed to Lord’s in England for their second bite at an International Cricket Council final in 12 months. DM