South Africa defeated Pakistan by a couple of wickets in hand in the first Test in Centurion. While Mohammad Abbas’ threatening six-fer brought the game to Pakistan’s court, a valiant fifty-runs stand between Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen eclipsed the visitors to solidify their WTC Final spot.
Overnight batters Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram were cautious at the start of the fourth day as the bowlers gained good control in the first hour. The ball seamed low off the wicket on occasions and the experienced pair seemed nonchalant until the Drinks Break. Just after Bavuma earned a six off a spilled catch from Naseem Shah at deep backward square leg, Mohammad Abbas cleaned up Markram in the 24th over. Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham added 34 runs together for the fifth wicket before the former walked out without reviewing a false inside edge that accounted for a dismissal. This made way for quick wickets as the Proteas lost four wickets in a space of eleven balls with Abbas claiming a six-fer. Subsequently, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada withstood the Pakistani attack until Lunch with 116/8 in 34 overs.
Post-Lunch, Rabada countered on any lose deliveries outside the stumps, bringing up quick runs. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen played second fiddle to the experienced campaigner as the deficit minimised with time. By the 38th over, South Africa needed 15 runs when Rabada’s back-to-back fours in an eleven run over off Aamer Jamal curtailed the equation to four needed with plenty of overs in hand. Subsequently, Rabada rotated the strike and Jansen hit the winning runs as South Africa solidify their WTC Final spot to stay afirm in the points table.
hat a moment for South Africa!!!!!
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531) December 29, 2024
That’s it!! He made it!
This is Lara-esque batting from Rabada 🤞
— Adi (@AdityaP09895329) December 29, 2024
Kagiso Charles Rabada #SAvsPAK
— paRaY_YasiR ✍️ (@ParayYasir2) December 29, 2024
Yupe that’s the tweet!
What a guy!
Kagiso Rabada’s Dad looks so stressed 🤞.#PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/75IRPHCeCE
— Yash Jain (@yashjain4163) December 29, 2024
rabada denying those choker South Africa genes. #SAvPAK
— Sneहाहाहा😂 (@__Sn_e_ha__) December 29, 2024
Hahaha!
Kagiso rabada is what I want siraj to be
— Someone (@Srishith164208) December 29, 2024
LOL! nvm
Pak even bigger chokers
Getting thrashed by Rabada🤣— Anjanish Tripathi (@Anjanish01) December 29, 2024
Rabada you deserve the world 🙌
— Fully fit 🤍 (@CovertBands) December 29, 2024
We all love him!
