South Africa will have an opportunity to finally win a major cricket title at the World Test Championship, which has provided a tonic for the sport's five-day game.

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.