South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test Highlights: South Africa beat Pakistan by 2 wickets

Pakistan and South Africa find themselves locked in a tense battle at Lunch on Day 4 of the first Test match. South Africa are currently at 116/8 after 34 overs, needing just 32 more runs to win, while Pakistan requires two wickets to seal victory. This finely balanced situation sets the stage for an enthralling post-Lunch session, where every ball will count and tensions will be at their peak. Will South Africa manage to scrape through to victory, or will Pakistan’s bowlers deliver the final blow? Join us at 10.55 am GMT for what promises to be a thrilling continuation of this gripping Test match.

Mohammad Abbas was the standout performer for Pakistan, claiming a five-wicket haul and now boasting six wickets in the match. His precision and consistency made him the driving force behind dismantling the South African batting lineup, making him the key architect of Pakistan’s success so far in this critical session.

Despite the disciplined start by South Africa, the Pakistani bowlers worked relentlessly, though without early success. Their persistence paid off when Aiden Markram fell for a well-made 37, which triggered a collapse. Pakistan capitalized on the breakthrough, claiming five wickets in the second hour and a half of the session. Temba Bavuma fought valiantly, playing a captain’s knock under challenging conditions, but his resistance ended disappointingly when he did not review his dismissal. Playing despite an injury and relying on medication, Bavuma will likely regret missing the chance to secure a victory for his team and strengthen their bid for a spot in the World Test Championship final.

SESSION SUMMARY - 89 runs and 5 wickets in 25 overs! Pakistan will be the happier side at lunch on Day 4, having taken five crucial South Africa wickets during this extended session. The hosts resumed their innings at an overnight score of 27/3 after 9 overs, with Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma out in the middle. The pair batted cautiously in the first hour, leaving wide deliveries and playing defensively to guard their stumps. Their approach demonstrated patience and skill, as they aimed to stabilize the innings.

Mohammad Abbas to Marco Jansen, Full again and outside off, zips through. Marco Jansen sees this one go through. THAT WILL BE LUNCH ON DAY 4!

Mohammad Abbas to Marco Jansen, On a good length, outside off, holds its line. Marco Jansen lets it go through. 

Mohammad Abbas to Marco Jansen, Fuller outside off, nips away. Marco Jansen lunges way forward using his height to negate the swing and defends it towards cover. 

Mohammad Abbas to Marco Jansen, Back of a length, just outside off. Marco Jansen gets right behind the line of the ball and defends it towards cover. 

Mohammad Abbas to Kagiso Rabada, Wayward down leg, on a back of a length. Kagiso Rabada tucks it off his hips towards long leg for a single. 

Mohammad Abbas to Kagiso Rabada, FOUR! Checks his drive and the ball races towards the fence. Bowled full and outside off, zips off the wicket. Kagiso Rabada lunges forward and pushes it past cover and mid off as the ball keeps on racing towards the sweeper cover boundary. 33 runs needed to win now!

If you are wondering why Lunch has not been taken. It is because this is an extended session to make up for all the lost time and overs. However, this will probably be the last over of the session.

Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, FOUR! Free-flowing drive from Marco Jansen and it's a Nelson on the board. Bowls it full and outside off, inviting the drive. Marco Jansen pushes his bat towards the line of the ball and guides it towards the sweeper cover fence for another boundary. 

Naseem Shah to Kagiso Rabada, Coming from around the wicket, bowls it full and on the off stump. Kagiso Rabada prods at it as it takes the inside edge and goes towards square leg for a single. 

Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, On a good length, just outside off, angling away, Marco Jansen steers it wide of point from the front foot with ease for a single.

Halt! The physio is in for a concussion check for Kagiso Rabada as he got hit on the helmet.

Naseem Shah to Kagiso Rabada, Leg bye! Short of a length, around middle, the ball climbs onto the batter, Kagiso Rabada looks to duck it by sitting underneath but couldn't be able to do so in time. The ball hits him on the helmet and goes wide of point and they run off for a leg bye single. The physio will come to see Rabada now. 

Naseem Shah to Kagiso Rabada, Short of a length, around off, angling away, Kagiso Rabada stays deep in the crease and dabs it in front of cover. A confusion in running between the wicket as Marco Jansen runs off for a quick single but is sent back by Rabada. He reaches to the non striker's end in time as the fielder takes an aim and throws at it but misses it. No harm is done.

Naseem Shah to Kagiso Rabada, Comes from over the wicket, good length, around middle, angling in, Kagiso Rabada fends it back to the bowler.

Mohammad Abbas to Kagiso Rabada, Leg bye! On a good length, around middle, angling in, Kagiso Rabada looks to flick it but misses it. The ball rolls over to square leg after hitting the pads and they cross.

Mohammad Abbas to Kagiso Rabada, FOUR! In the air and a boundary! This game is racing pretty fast here! Goes fuller this time, in the slot, wide outside off, from around the wicket, shaping away. Kagiso Rabada gets enough room to free his arms as he comes forward and drives it. The ball goes through the outer half of the blade in the air wide of deep point for a boundary.  100 up for South Africa!

Mohammad Abbas to Kagiso Rabada, Comes from around the wicket, good length, around off and middle, angling in. Kagiso Rabada defends it from the front foot with the full face of the bat.

Kagiso Rabada walks out to bat now.

Mohammad Abbas to Corbin Bosch, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! TWO IN TWO FOR PAKISTAN! Mohammad Abbas once again hits the length hard and just around off, takes off a bit. Corbin Bosch stays back and tries to punch it away but gets an outside edge behind where Mohammad Rizwan makes no mistake. He could have left that, but now has to walk back for a golden duck. Abbas gets his sixth and Pakistan are just two wickets away from the win now!

Corbin Bosch is the next man in.

Mohammad Abbas to David Bedingham, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! NUMBER FIVE FOR ABBAS! He has been superb and the decision to give him the extended spell is working like a treat for Pakistan. This is on a hard length and in the corridor of uncertainty, holds its line. David Bedingham steps across and looks to defend it but only manages to get a thin outside edge behind. Mohammad Rizwan dives forward and takes a sharp catch. The umpires want to check, but the replay shows that it is a clean catch. South Africa seven down now!

Mohammad Abbas to David Bedingham, Good length and on off, shaping in, David Bedingham looks to push it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Marco Jansen comes out to the middle now.

Naseem Shah to Kyle Verreynne, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Another one bites the dust! Pakistan are well and truly back in the game. Naseem Shah hits the length hard this time and just on of, gets it to nip back in a bit. Kyle Verreynne stays in his crease and tries to guide it away but his feet go nowhere. He plays away from his body and only manages to get an inside edge back onto the stumps. South Africa are 99/6, still needing 49 runs to win!

Naseem Shah to Kyle Verreynne, Goes fuller and in that channel outside off, holds its line, Kyle Verreynne lets it go to the keeper.

Naseem Shah to Kyle Verreynne, Short of a length and on off, Kyle Verreynne hops up and keeps it out to the off side.

Naseem Shah to David Bedingham, Pitches it up and on off, David Bedingham reaches out for it a bit and guides it towards cover-point for a run. South Africa needs under 50 runs now!

Naseem Shah to David Bedingham, Back of a length and on off, David Bedingham leaves it alone.

Naseem Shah to Kyle Verreynne, On a length and around off, Kyle Verreynne pushes it towards covers for a single.

Mohammad Abbas to Kyle Verreynne, Hard length and on off, nips back in, Kyle Verreynne looks to push it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls to point. They cross.

Mohammad Abbas to Kyle Verreynne, Short of a length and outside off, Kyle Verreynne leaves it alone.

Kyle Verreynne walks out to bat now.

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Mohammad Abbas, you beauty! This game is still alive! Pakistan gets the big wicket of Temba Bavuma at a crucial point in this Test. This one is bowled on a good length and on off, jags back in sharply. Bavuma skips down the track to loft it down the ground but the inward movement takes a thin inside edge behind where Mohammad Rizwan makes no mistake. Bavuma walks back for 40 off 78. Oh..wow! The South African skipper did not take the review here, but UltraEdge shows that the noise was from the ball hitting his back pocket and not his bat. Huge moment in the game. South Africa lose half their side now and still needs 52 runs to win.

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, Pitches it up from wide of the crease, on middle, shaping in. Temba Bavuma uses his feet and fends it away.

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, On a length and on off, Temba Bavuma stays back and blocks it out.

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, Fuller and on middle, angling in, Temba Bavuma knocks it towards mid on.

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, Short of a length and around off, takes off a bit. Temba Bavuma rides the bounce well and cuts it wide of deep point for a brace. Oh..no! It is also called a No Ball for overstepping. Pakistan cannot afford to do that.

Khurram Shahzad to David Bedingham, FOUR! The runs are coming thick and fast now! Khurram Shahzad in search of swing bowls this too full, angling into the pads. David Bedingham brings his wrists into play and whips it away with fine timing through mid-wicket for a boundary. 8 runs off the over. South Africa needs 55 runs to win now!

Khurram Shahzad to Temba Bavuma, Bangs it into the pitch, on middle, Temba Bavuma rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Khurram Shahzad to David Bedingham, Pitched up and around off, David Bedingham steers it through point for another run.

Khurram Shahzad to Temba Bavuma, Nicely bowled! Khurram Shahzad serves this right in the blockhole, shapes away in the air. Temba Bavuma digs it out well towards mid on for a run.

Khurram Shahzad to Temba Bavuma, Sharp bowling! Khurram Shahzad bangs in a quick bouncer, on middle, Temba Bavuma sways away from the line of it.

Halt! It looks like Temba Bavuma is suffering from cramps in his right hand. The physio is in to check on him. He looks good to continue now.

Khurram Shahzad to David Bedingham, Fuller and on off, David Bedingham pushes it wide of short covers for a quick single. 

Mohammad Abbas to Temba Bavuma, Back of a length and around off, Temba Bavuma stands tall and pulls it away nicely wide of deep mid-wicket. He calls for two straightaway and gets it quite comfortably in the end. 

Mohammad Abbas to David Bedingham, Goes fuller and on off, shaping in, David Bedingham looks to drive but gets a bottom edge towards mid-wicket for a run.