Twitter Reactions: South Africa pip Pakistan in Centurion thriller by two wickets

Pakistan fought hard on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion but Kagiso Rabada did the star turn with the bat to guide South Africa to a nerve-wracking two-wicket win.

After three intense days of cricket, South Africa started on Sunday, December 29, at the score of 27/3, requiring another 121 runs for a victory. Overnight batters Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma brought the target down to 86 runs when the umpires called for drinks in the first session. Only three balls after the interval, Mohammad Abbas bowled a peach of a delivery to end Markram's resolute knock of 37.

Bavuma and David Bedingham scored freely, stitching a 34-run partnership off 38 balls. However, the South African captain threw his wicket away when he was batting on 40. He thought he had edged one through to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Abbas's bowling. However, DRS showed no spike when the ball went past the inside-edge. Bavuma would have been safe had he taken the review.

Pakistan needed this stroke of luck and they made the most of the opening. From 96/4, the hosts slumped to 99/8 and it seemed that the Asian side would win comfortably. However, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada joined forces and they played excellent counter-attacking cricket. While Jansen mixed caution with aggression, there were no half measures from Rabada.

The ninth wicket partnership yielded 51 runs off 50 balls as South Africa reached the target with two wickets to spare. Rabada remained unbeaten on 31 off 26 balls after hitting five boundaries. Meanwhile, Jansen finished 16 not out off 24 deliveries, hitting three fours.

Abbas bowled his heart out in the first session and eventually finished with figures of 6/54 in 19.3 overs. However, he would have hoped for a little more support from his fellow seamers. This win ensures South Africa a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year.

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