301/10 (73.4)
CR : 4.09
211/10 (57.3)
CR : 3.67
South Africa won by 2 wickets π
Player of the Match
Aiden Markram
89(144) & 37(63)
Smallest Test Victories By South Africa (In Terms of Wickets)
1 Wicket - Against England in Johannesburg in 1906
2 Wickets - Against Pakistan in Centurion in 2024 (This Match)*
3 Wickets - Against England in Manchester in 1955
3 Wickets - Against Sri Lanka in Centurion in 2002
4 Wickets - Against England in Cape Town in 1910
1 Wicket - Against England in Johannesburg in 1906
2 Wickets - Against Pakistan in Centurion in 2024 (This Match)*
3 Wickets - Against England in Manchester in 1955
3 Wickets - Against Sri Lanka in Centurion in 2002
4 Wickets - Against England in Cape Town in 1910
Time for the post match presentation..
Player of the Match: Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram (Player of the Match): "Pretty relieved now, it was very tense. To get on the right side means a lot and to get to the final is pretty special. Today I would have loved to take us to the end but unfortunately it did not work out. Different challenge on different days but we would like to be more clinical as a team and sometimes to do that you have take these kind of wins.
I was never one for milestone, I am not gonna break any records in my career. It's about contributing and winning matches for South Africa. Sometimes you can and sometimes you can't but you have to keep trying.
We were never really in as a batter, the ball was moving up and down and laterally too. It was tough but fortunately it worked out this way."
I was never one for milestone, I am not gonna break any records in my career. It's about contributing and winning matches for South Africa. Sometimes you can and sometimes you can't but you have to keep trying.
We were never really in as a batter, the ball was moving up and down and laterally too. It was tough but fortunately it worked out this way."
Shan Masood (Pakistan Captain): "Extremely proud of the efforts but I guess we had to be ruthless going forward. We have been competing well in these conditions. I said that in Australia as well. We had the game by the scruff of the neck, we had them eight down (twice). Even with the bat, we could have extended our score (in the first innings) and our target. That is what we have to do to compete and be among the top teams in the WTC.
We have pointed out things. We lost wickets in a cluster. When we started, it was challenging to bat. I lost my wicket, then we lost three wickets quickly. Once Babar and Saud were in and when Aamir Jamal was in, you needed as many runs as possible to battle it out.
Test cricket provides you with extra cushions. I am a huge believer in learning. We have to get over the line. We have to seize those moments. We have been making those same mistakes.
(On Abbas) That is what you want - an effort like that being on the winning side. Saud was great as well. If he had batted with more batters, he would have gotten his hundred too. Those performances win you games, but unfortunately, we could not get past the line."
We have pointed out things. We lost wickets in a cluster. When we started, it was challenging to bat. I lost my wicket, then we lost three wickets quickly. Once Babar and Saud were in and when Aamir Jamal was in, you needed as many runs as possible to battle it out.
Test cricket provides you with extra cushions. I am a huge believer in learning. We have to get over the line. We have to seize those moments. We have been making those same mistakes.
(On Abbas) That is what you want - an effort like that being on the winning side. Saud was great as well. If he had batted with more batters, he would have gotten his hundred too. Those performances win you games, but unfortunately, we could not get past the line."
Temba Bavuma (South Africa Captain): "Quite an emotional win for me. Good advertisement for Test cricket. Lot of joy and happiness, bit of a rollercoaster but we are happy we could get the result.
I was still sulking in the toilet at Lunch, I think Aiden was leading the boys and he kept them going. He instilled confidence in Jansen and Rabada to come out and take it home today. I came out with 15 to go, it's a bit emotional for me.
It's a big one for the team, for the coaches, we started this campaign and battled against a lot of strong teams, the expectations were not high but as a team we have come a long way, we were not ruthless but everyone ensured the results came out on our side. The character of this group is excellent, this is a good win for South African cricket. People watching back home need to understand that we are here for a reason and that we deserve to represent our team.
We will have to enjoy the moment, I see the Beers are here. I don't know who is gonna find words in the dressing room, definitely not myself, but we will celebrate what we have achieved as a team. I did not nick that? Not too sure, Not too sure."
I was still sulking in the toilet at Lunch, I think Aiden was leading the boys and he kept them going. He instilled confidence in Jansen and Rabada to come out and take it home today. I came out with 15 to go, it's a bit emotional for me.
It's a big one for the team, for the coaches, we started this campaign and battled against a lot of strong teams, the expectations were not high but as a team we have come a long way, we were not ruthless but everyone ensured the results came out on our side. The character of this group is excellent, this is a good win for South African cricket. People watching back home need to understand that we are here for a reason and that we deserve to represent our team.
We will have to enjoy the moment, I see the Beers are here. I don't know who is gonna find words in the dressing room, definitely not myself, but we will celebrate what we have achieved as a team. I did not nick that? Not too sure, Not too sure."
Best Bowling Figures by a Pakistan Bowler in Tests vs South Africa
6/54 - Mohammad Abbas at SuperSport Park in Centurion, 2024 (This Match)
6/78 - Mushtaq Ahmed at Kingsmead in Durban, 1998
6/78 - Waqar Younis at St George's Park in Gqeberha, 1998
6/96 - Saeed Ajmal at Newlands in Cape Town, 2013
6/120 - Tanveer Ahmed at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, 2010
6/54 - Mohammad Abbas at SuperSport Park in Centurion, 2024 (This Match)
6/78 - Mushtaq Ahmed at Kingsmead in Durban, 1998
6/78 - Waqar Younis at St George's Park in Gqeberha, 1998
6/96 - Saeed Ajmal at Newlands in Cape Town, 2013
6/120 - Tanveer Ahmed at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, 2010
Winning a Test After Losing 8 Wickets for Less Than 100 in the 4th Innings
73/8 to 104/9 - New Zealand vs West Indies, Dunedin, 1979/80
93/8 to 95/8 - England vs Australia, The Oval, 1890
95/8 to 141/8 - Pakistan vs England, Lordβs, 1992
99/8 to 150/8 - South Africa vs Pakistan, Centurion, 2024 (This Match)*
73/8 to 104/9 - New Zealand vs West Indies, Dunedin, 1979/80
93/8 to 95/8 - England vs Australia, The Oval, 1890
95/8 to 141/8 - Pakistan vs England, Lordβs, 1992
99/8 to 150/8 - South Africa vs Pakistan, Centurion, 2024 (This Match)*
That's it from a thriller of a 1st Test between South Africa and Pakistan! South Africa qualify for the WTC Finals on a close-fought Day 4 of this Test! Hop tabs to join our coverage from the rest of the games!
This is Anirudh Modi, signing off along with my co-commentators Ajay Pal Singh and Pritam Dey, and our scorer/analyst Asraj Khan! See you on the next one.
This is Anirudh Modi, signing off along with my co-commentators Ajay Pal Singh and Pritam Dey, and our scorer/analyst Asraj Khan! See you on the next one.