Mohammad Abbas achieves rare feat in first SA Test
Abbas Shines with Historic 6/54, But South Africa Clinch Nail-Biting Two-Wicket Win Over Pakistan
Mohammad Abbas delivered a remarkable performance, claiming figures of 6/54 in South Africa’s second innings to etch his name in history. His effort surpassed Mushtaq Ahmed’s 6/78 in Durban (1998) as the best bowling figures by a Pakistan player against South Africa in Test cricket.
Best Test Bowling Figures for Pakistan vs South Africa:
- Mohammad Abbas – Centurion, 2024: 6/54
- Mushtaq Ahmed – Durban, 1998: 6/78
- Waqar Younis – Gqeberha, 1998: 6/78
- Saeed Ajmal – Cape Town, 2013: 6/96
- Tanveer Ahmed – Abu Dhabi, 2010: 6/120
Despite Abbas’s heroics, South Africa edged out Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling contest at Centurion. Chasing a modest 148, the Proteas found themselves in deep trouble at 99/6. However, a match-winning 51-run stand between Kagiso Rabada (33*) and Marco Jansen (20*) saw them across the line.
Earlier in the innings, Aiden Markram (37) and Temba Bavuma (40) stabilized South Africa with a 43-run partnership after they resumed at a precarious 27/3.
Pakistan’s Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad supported Abbas with a wicket each, but the South African lower order held their nerves to seal the game.
With this victory, South Africa climbed to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a points percentage of 66.67%, securing their qualification for the WTC final.
The second and final Test of the series is scheduled for Cape Town from January 3-7, 2025.
