25 Feb 2013

Abbott's nine wickets help South Africa to clean sweep

10:27 am on 25 February 2013

Debutant Kyle Abbott took nine wickets as the South African cricketers completed a 3-nil series sweep over Pakistan with a crushing innings and 18 run victory in the third and final test at Centurion overnight.

Pakistan were bowled out for 235 in their second innings, having managed 156 in their first in reply to South Africa's 409.

Abbott was the pick of the South African seamers on a helpful wicket, recording match figures of nine for 68.

Starting the day on 14 for one, Pakistan showed some fighting spirit losing only Younus Khan (11), who played a thick edge off Dale Steyn to Graeme Smith at first slip, in the morning session.

But the tourists began to implode after lunch.

South Africa won the first test in Johannesburg by 211 runs and completed a four-wicket victory in the second in Cape Town.