South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test at Centurion, PAK in SA, Dec 26 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary

2.59pm That's about it for us from the ESPNcricinfo team for the first Test of this three-Test series. Loads of drama, that you can catch up on here in Liam Brickhill's report. For the moment, it's goodbye from Chandan Duorah, Saurabh Somani, Danyal Rasool, Liam and myself, Debayan Sen. Here's wishing you all a very happy new year. Stay blessed and keep following the game with ESPNcricinfo!

Duanne Olivier is the man of the match.

Duanne Olivier: "It's just about contributing to the team, and each opportunity I get making the most of it I enjoy [the enforcer role] but it depends on the wicket, I wouldn't do it in every game. At the end of the day it's about putting in the hard work and committing to every ball. I'm not too fazed about Vern coming back. He's world class. I'll just take things day by day. This is a Test match I will never forget."

Faf du Plessis: "Great Test, and good to go one up. Very chuffed for Dale. He wanted to get it in Sri Lanka. He was desperate to get that wicket. But the way he's been bowling in the last few months, we knew he would get it in this Test. [Collapse] was the match-turning moment. Both teams were very similar in the first innings. We were talking about restricting them to 250, but that period where we got nine wickets was incredible from the bowlers, especially Duanne. He reminded me of Mitchell Johnson here a few years ago, making it very uncomfortable for the batsmen.Fantastic batting, and I'm very happy for Hashim. It looks like he's moving really well. Vernon in Cape Town is like peanut butter and syrup, he should be there."

SM : "Reminiscent of the 2015 WC quarterfinal. Good fast bowling in the face of a small total... only to be let down with bad fielding. Actually, you could probably pick out several dozen such examples in the last few years. "

Pierre: "Come on! All the what if's aside you can't set a premier test side 149 to win! Really good bowling from SA yesterday, and batting to secure the small but crucial lead. They were ahead of Pakistan in both departments at the end of the day just give credit where it is due"

Mubashir: "I have always heard one quote that catches win matches if fakhar got that catch the result might be different "

Hiba : "We must give credit to Pakistani fast bowlers they bowled with great attitude throughout the match..so bad that the batsmen provided no support."

Stanton: "Good win for SA. I do suspect that thinus de bruin will get dropped to make way for Vernon for the Cape Town tests his batting is not bad at all, and thinus had really struggled recently in tests. Olivier and Maharaj to be retained "

Pawan: "is this the first match in which no captain scored a single run?" --- Yes, the first completed Test match where both captains have been dismissed for pairs. Cannot account for matches where batsmen didn't bat, or had rain interruptions, etc.

Wasim : "Let's give credit to SA, we have now beaten Australia and India at home and now we 1-0 up vs Pakistan. We really are formidable at home! "

Noor: "Haris, Faheem, Rizwan in next match for Asad, Sarfaraz and Hassan"

2.35pm So a little over midway through this Test, and South Africa walk away with a six-wicket win. The margin flatters them a bit, because this day was about a stern examination set by the Pakistan seamers, that Amla and Elgar had to do well to pass. A 119-run partnership in a 149-run chase was always going to be crucial, and that's exactly how they helped overcome the early loss of Aiden Markram.

Fraz: "Makes you think. Had Fakhar held on to the Amla catch and the umpire given the Eglar catch, South Africa would have been 16-3 and their ever so fragile middle order would have been exposed early to a pumped up Pakistani bowling lineup"

Usama Jawad: "Just thinking, if Pakistan had extended the target to at least 200, they would have genuinely given South Africa a run for their money. Now, the only positives they can take from this match is their superb bowling attack, and fifties scored by Imam and Babar." --- I felt 175 would have been terrific on this pitch. And if they had held Amla early today. But cricket has to be played beyond the ifs and buts

Just two away

Fahad: "Now, Mickey would be even angrier! Had Sa won by 9 wickets the batters could have said to him see it wouldnt have mattered even if we had a 200 lead but now with 4 down Mickey would get a mickey out of batters again:)"

Comes around the wicket now

Ahsan Zaman: "It could not happen, could it??????" --- Anything could, but it probably won't

MUHAMMAD NAZAR : "it must be a new world record for Captains, both captains in same test got PAIR OF DUCKS.. " --- Quack-quack of affirmation!

The target is in single figures now

Usama Ata: "Oh! Please Team South Africa live up to your Chokers tag! Choke now Come on!"

Muhammad Shahid: "When there is no lead left to defend, they have started taking wickets."

Saurabh confirms that this is the first time all four innings in a Test have seen the designated captains fail to score a single

Nayyar Raza Kha: "Some body saying yasir is going wicket less, please post his more comments like this we need 6 more in 3 overs i think."

Bavuma is the new man in. Got a handy fifty in the first dig

Fahad Fazli: "World record game for captains:)" --- Who would want to be a captain, eh? Kohli got a blob today as well!