Abbas triggers catastrophic South Africa collapse with 6-fer as hosts lost five wickets for 37 runs in a session that turned very nervy.
Abbas turned the contest on its head as South Africa are still some way off the target with only two wickets in hand.
Abbas returned to the Test team after a three-year hiatus, bowling a long 17-over spell from the Hennops River End and taking a career-high 6 for 43. With outstanding, aggressive, and disciplined back-of-a-length bowling, he dismissed South Africa’s top and middle order, as evidenced by his morning statistics of 13-4-40-4.
Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, was well set at forty when he was dismissed off what looked to be the inside-edge and walked, earning him the most valuable wicket.
With all three reviews at their disposal, South Africa might have requested a second assessment after replays revealed Bavuma had missed the ball. Rather, Bavuma, who had just had his elbow treated, left the middle-order to complete the task. His dismissal left the tail at the crease and caused a collapse of four wickets for three runs.
The morning’s first runs for Bavuma came off a half-volley from Mohammad Abbas that he clipped through square leg on the sixth ball. Abbas thought he had found Bavuma’s edge in his following over after adjusting to the back of a length. Shah Masood reviewed notwithstanding Mohammad Rizwan’s indication that the ball had touched Bavuma’s thigh. Bavuma was allowed to continue on 5 after Rizwan was shown to be correct.
Before Bavuma hammered Khurram Shahzad through mid-on to leave South Africa with 100 runs remaining, Aiden Markram appeared to be in a somewhat better position, but he scored a streaking boundary off the edge.
As Markram attempted to slam his bat down and keep it out, he was bowled by a low Abbas delivery three balls after the interval. With a top score of 35 this summer, David Bedingham was summoned to the crease after Bavuma and Markram concluded a 43-run fourth-wicket stand.
Before Bavuma pulled off a stunning cover drive, he began with a wristy flick for four. However, the spectacular shots were followed by dangerous ones.
Even though Bavuma was unable to fully extend his elbow, he was unable to withstand another hook, but the chance fell safely. He continued to attack Shahzad, was brought back to take Naseem’s place, and struck over the covers, but he was never able to settle down.
Shahzad believed he had found his outside edge two balls later, but Rizwan realised it was pad, and Masood paid attention. Bavuma continued to play despite needing treatment for his right elbow after facing eight more balls. His left elbow had been hurt prior to this season.
He appeared to have inside-edged to Rizwan in the following over after driving loosely and expansively against Abbas. Replays revealed that although Bavuma moved, the ball had once more fallen off his clothes.
Kyle Verreynne whacked a Naseem Shah delivery onto his stumps after failing to get behind the line. After David Bedingham pursued an Abbas ball and was caught behind in the following over, Abbas took his sixth wicket thanks to an almost identical move from Corbin Bosch.
With only Dane Paterson left, Pakistan will be confident of achieving a historic victory. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen put up 17 runs between them, and Rabada reached 1,000 Test runs.