Centurion: Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas achieved a rare milestone in the first Test against South Africa on Sunday at SuperSport Park.
Abbas, who made his return to the national team after nearly three years, registered the best-ever bowling figures by a Pakistan bowler against South Africa.
Abbas claimed remarkable figures of 6/54 in South Africa’s second innings, which not only secured a memorable individual achievement but also helped Pakistan make significant inroads into the Proteas' middle order. His performance surpassed the previous best by Mushtaq Ahmed, who had taken 6/78 in Durban back in 1998.
Best Test Bowling Figures by a Pakistan Bowler 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
It is pertinent to mention that South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets in a dramatic contest that saw fluctuating fortunes.
Chasing a modest 148, the hosts were in trouble at 99/6, but a gritty 51-run partnership between Kagiso Rabada (33*) and Marco Jansen (20*) saw them home.
Earlier, Aiden Markram (37) and Temba Bavuma (40) had steadied the innings with a 43-run stand after South Africa resumed at 27/3.
Abbas’s brilliant 6/54 had put Pakistan on the brink of victory, with Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad chipping in with a wicket each.
With this victory, South Africa climbed to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 points table with a points percentage of 66.67%.
Their win also secured qualification for the WTC final, showcasing their dominance in red-ball cricket.
For the unversed, the second and final Test match of the series will take place in Cape Town from January 3-7, 2025.