Islamabad, Dec 30: Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas made a remarkable return to international cricket with a record-breaking performance in the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park. Although Pakistan fell short, the match will be remembered for Abbas’s stunning 6/54, a career-defining spell that nearly led Pakistan to a potential victory.
Abbas’s figures of 6/54 in South Africa’s second innings set a new record for the best-ever performance by a Pakistan bowler in Test cricket against the Proteas, surpassing Mushtaq Ahmed’s 6/78 from 1998 in Durban. Abbas joined an elite group of bowlers, including Waqar Younis and Saeed Ajmal, who have claimed six wickets in an innings against South Africa. Below are the top Test bowling performances by Pakistani bowlers against South Africa:
| Bowler Name | Venue | Year | Bowling Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Despite Abbas’s brilliance, Pakistan narrowly lost as South Africa chased down a modest target of 148. The match was a tense affair, with South Africa at 99/6, but a 51-run partnership between Kagiso Rabada (33*) and Marco Jansen (20*) helped the hosts secure a two-wicket victory.
The second and final Test of the series will take place in Cape Town from January 3-7, 2025, where Abbas and Pakistan will aim to bounce back and challenge South Africa for the series win.
