Sport Cricket

LORD’S MY NOU: SA beat Pakistan to book WTC final spot

Voice Sports Team|Published

MATCH-WINNER: SA yster Kagiso Rabada

BY DEAN CLOETE

Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen batted South Africa into June 2025’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Sunday.

The two South African fast bowlers helped the Proteas over the line with a nerve-wracking unbeaten 51-run ninth-
wicket stand at Centurion Park to beat Pakistan by two 
wickets in the first of two Tests.

It should never have been that close, with SA chasing 148 runs for the win that would book them their place in the WTC final next year.

But at 96/4 things took a dramatic turn for the worse, when Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma was caught behind ­­­– with replays showing he didn’t nick the ball, but walked – for 40.

They went from 96/4 to 99/8 in no time, with Mohammad Abbas (6/54) wreaking havoc and putting his team firmly in control at lunch.

Jansen (16*) and Rabada (31*) then played like champions to take SA home.

While booking their place in the Test finale was the big story of the Test in Pretoria, debutant Corbin Bosch stole the headlines for most of the weekend.

Bosch took 4/63 in Pakistan’s first innings – with Dane Paterson taking 5/61– as the visitors scored 211.

He then scored an unbeaten 81 to add to Aiden Markram’s 89, as SA scored 301, before Jansen took 6/52 to help bowl out Pakistan for 237 in their second innings.

The two teams now head to Cape Town for the New Year’s Test.

Daily Voice

Related Topics:

proteaskagiso rabadacricket