The Boxing Day Test between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion took an electrifying turn on Day 4 when Pakistan’s seasoned seamer, Mohammad Abbas, delivered what might be considered one of the balls of the match. Abbas, returning to Test cricket after a three-year hiatus, dismantled South African opener Aiden Markram with a delivery that was both cunning and precise, highlighting his remarkable comeback.
The delivery that changed the game: Mohammad Abbas castles Aiden Markram
The moment came just after the drinks break on the fourth day, with South Africa needing 148 runs to secure victory and a spot in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) final. Markram, who had been the backbone of South Africa’s chase with a well-made 37, was undone by Abbas’s mastery of the seaming ball. The delivery, pitched just outside off, nipped back sharply, kept low, and breached Markram’s defense to disturb the timber. The ball was so good that even Markram, after the initial shock, couldn’t help but acknowledge the brilliance of Abbas’s bowling.
Abbas silences critics with seam mastery
The dismissal was a testament to Abbas’s skill, especially given his reputation for accuracy rather than raw pace. Known for his ability to bowl long spells and extract movement from even the most unresponsive pitches, Abbas’s return to the Pakistani Test side has been marked with skepticism by some who favored pace over his consistent line and length. However, this delivery, and indeed his entire spell in this Test, silenced those doubts.
Celebrations from Abbas were intense; his reaction after the dismissal was one of pure elation mixed with relief, a sign of how much this moment meant to him after years out of the side.
Here is the video:
— IPL (@WatchIPLvideos) December 29, 2024
Also WATCH: Khurram Shahzad gets rid of Tony de Zorzi with a beauty on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test – SA vs PAK
Pakistan fights back
This wicket brought Pakistan back into the contest, reducing South Africa to 62 for 4, still needing 86 runs for victory. The match had been finely poised since the early stages, with South Africa’s batting looking to capitalize on a modest target set by Pakistan’s second innings. However, Abbas’s intervention changed the dynamic, showing that Pakistan could still fight back despite their earlier batting struggles.
Notably, after dismissing Markram, Abbas took three more scalps and reduced the hosts to 116/8 at lunch, with the home team still needing 32 runs to win.
Also WATCH: SA vs PAK – Kagiso Rabada removes Saim Ayub with an absolute beauty on Day 2 of the Centurion Test