Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen became batting heroes as South Africa beat Pakistan by two wickets, won a thrilling first Test at Centurion and secured a place in next year’s World Test Championship final.

Rabada scored 31 and Jansen 16 in an unbeaten partnership of 51 off 50 balls that took South Africa over the line and denied Pakistan a dramatic comeback victory after Mohammed Abbas took six wickets as he broke through the home batting order.

The Test ended more like a Twenty20 match as the bottom teams were successful after South Africa collapsed dramatically before lunch and Pakistan were on the brink of success before Rabada, considered the second best Test bowler in the world, emerged as an unlikely batting hero, while Jansen delivered the winning runs with a first-class drive to the boundary.

Abbas had brought Pakistan close by taking four wickets in a marathon 13 consecutive overs before lunch as South Africa did heavy lifting to reach a modest target of 148. Abbas, whose total was six for 54 in 19.3 overs, caused a dramatic collapse after South Africa cruised to a comfortable victory with 50 runs needed and six wickets in hand.

His success included the fortunate dismissal of Temba Bavuma for 40. The South African captain left after he thought he had pushed the ball behind the wicketkeeper, but would overturn his decision not to review after TV replays showed the ball Hadn’t touched his racket yet rather Bavuma’s bag on the way through. Abbas also bowled Aiden Markram and had David Bedingham and Corbin Bosch stuck back – Bosch went with the first ball and ensured South Africa fell from 96 for four to 99 for eight.

“I’m very proud of our efforts, but going forward we need to be even more ruthless as a team. We have to seize the moments that Test cricket offers,” said Pakistan captain Shan Masood.

South Africa, who host Pakistan in the second Test at Newlands next Friday, have now won six Tests in a row, starting with a success against the West Indies in August, followed by two Test series wins in Bangladesh and finally against Sri Lanka last month.

“Quite an emotional event and a good advertisement for Test cricket,” Bavuma said. “A lot of joy and happiness for us, but kind of a roller coaster ride. We did it the hard way but we are happy to have achieved the result.”

They moved to the top of the WTC standings after beating Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, but needed another Test win in the series against Pakistan to book a place in the final at Lord’s from June 11-15.