Early wickets have put South Africa in a nervous position in the hunt for a place in the World Test Championship final

A nervous South Africa fell to 3-27 and reached 148 to beat Pakistan in the first Test and book a place in the World Test Championship next June.

With the game ending early due to poor lighting on a rain-affected third day at the Centurion, the hosts will have to return on Sunday needing 121 points to win.

If South Africa wins, Australia, India and Sri Lanka will enter a three-way race for the final spot in the Would Test Championship decider.

Pakistan took three wickets in the first nine overs of South Africa’s second innings, Mohammad Abbas two and Khurram Shahzad the other, while Tony de Zorzi (2), Ryan Rickleton (0) and Tristan Stubbs (1) all caught leg before wicket were.

Aiden Markram, whose first innings 89 was the game’s highest score so far, will continue on 22 not out, along with captain Temba Bavuma, who is yet to score.

South Africa had a 90-run lead in the first innings and although the contest ebbed and flowed throughout the day, they probably felt they had secured a winning position before they came out to bat.

At 3-88, Pakistan were dismissed for 237 with their last four wickets falling for 29.

Marco Jansen finished with 6-52, denting Pakistan’s hopes of a better second-innings tally after Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam made a bright start to the day’s play, which was delayed until after lunch due to a passing rainstorm.

Shakeel opened the scoring with 84 before being canceled out by a full throw from Jansen, but his dismissal was unfortunate, in contrast to a series of ill-advised shots that resulted in his teammates going out.

Babar was moving briskly from 16 not out overnight to 50 – his first in his last 20 Test innings – but then fell short and wide in Jansen’s first over and was caught on the boundary by Corbin Bosch.

Mohammad Rizwan then gave away his wicket for little while Salman Ali Agha only went for the third ball he faced and got behind it.

Aamer Jamal was dismissed on 18 as he couldn’t resist blocking a short throw from Dane Paterson and was caught by Rickelton.

The second Test against Pakistan will take place next Friday at Newlands in Cape Town.