Pakistan's historic win over South Africa (Source: @ICC/x.com)
Over the years, Test cricket has been the pinnacle of the game as the marathon five-day rivalry never had a dry outing in cricketing history. Some teams fought the deadly battle, and the clashes have become historic ones.
Amidst all the rivalries and nail-biting, gripping contests of the red-ball format, the first win over the opponents is always special. As Pakistan and South Africa are locking on a thrilling Test series, Men in Green’s first Test win against the Proteas, their first win was a thrilling contest.
In 1998, Pakistan achieved a historic milestone by defeating South Africa in a Test match on their home turf. Let’s rewind and relive the unforgettable performance that etched Pakistan’s name in cricket history.
Durban becomes Pakistan’s stage of glory
The ODI’s deliver drama while T20s delivers unmissable thrills but the Test tastes the real game of patience. Despite both teams having rich cricketing histories, Pakistan and South Africa didn’t face each other in Tests until 1994, when Pakistan traveled to South African soil for their historic debut clash.
After 1994, Pakistan needed four long years to secure their maiden Test victory over the Proteas as they enjoyed early success. Finally, in 1998, during a three-match series on South African soil, the Men in Green delivered a nail-biting performance, clinching a thrilling 29-run victory, marking their maiden victory over the proteas.
The first innings delivers a rollercoaster of tension and skill
As both side collided in Durban, the cricket world witnessed a classic tale of a iconic Test clash. After South Africa opted to field first, Saeed Anwar came to open the innings with Aamer Sohail. As the South African bowling attack was lethal, Sohail walked out early and the Men in Green lost a few wickets quickly.
As the side was struggling, Azhar Mahmood stepped in as a savior. He smashed a century and played a knock of 132 runs in 163 deliveries. On the flip side, Allan Donald’s remarkable fifer and outstanding efforts by the bowlers restricted Pakistan in 259 runs.
As South Africa came to bat in the first innings, , Fazl-e-Akbar secured two early scalps and South African side was put under pressure. In that moment, Jacques Kallis and Ackerman’s 83-run partnership turned the tide. Shaun Pollock then played a calm knock, unbeaten 70, guiding South Africa to a respectable first-innings total of 231, keeping the contest tantalisingly alive.
Grit, skill, and glory fuel Pakistan’s historic win
With a 28-run lead, Pakistan came back to bat and Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail’s iconic 101-run partnership gave a strong foundation. As Saeed tightened his grip, the rest of the batting lineup falter against the lethal South African bowling attack. Despite the shake up, Pakistan ended up on 226 runs depending on Anwar’s majestic 118.
As South Africa stepped into the second innings with a hope of glory but the Pakistani bowlers flipped the script. Mushtaq Ahmed spun a web of trouble, claiming a brilliant six-wicket haul, while Waqar Younis struck with pace to take three more. Even Mark Boucher tried to turn the game with a thrilling fifty, the other batters didn’t get a chance to bounce back.
With that, South African ended their fight 225 run, a historic moment unfolded in Pakistan cricket. With a nail-biting 29-run win, the Men in Green celebrated their maiden Test triumph over the Proteas. Dominating on foreign soil, Pakistan’s bowlers turned the game on its head, delivering a performance that not only secured victory but also etched their names into cricketing history.
