Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen turned batting heroes on Sunday as South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets to win a thrilling first test at Centurion and book themselves a place in next year's World Test Championship final.

South Africa collapsed to 116-8 against Pakistan as fast bowler Mohammad Abbas ran riot on Day 4 of the first test as the tourists closed in on their first test win in South Africa in 18 years.

The Boxing Day Test is set for a thrilling finish as South Africa need 121 more runs to win with seven wickets in hand. The Pakistan pace bowlers will be looking to take wickets and restrict the Proteas.

South Africa were 32 runs shy of winning the first test while Pakistan needed only two wickets for success as the contest headed to a thrilling finish on the fourth day at Centurion on Sunday. Mohamma

Rain delayed the start of the third day's play in the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan with no play possible before lunch.

South Africa's top-order stumbled against Pakistan's pace attack as the first cricket test headed towards an exciting finish after Marco Jansen's six-wicket haul had set the home team a tricky 148-run target.

Opening batter Aiden Markram closed in on his eighth test century as South Africa reached 180-5 at lunch on the second day of the first test against Pakistan.