For Pakistan, this was a frustrating series. They gave themselves an opportunity to win at Centurion and then failed to make use of a flat surface in the first innings here, getting bowled out for 194. They toiled manfully, led by Shan’s 145, but will look back at a second innings where only Babar Azam was able to make a half-century as an opportunity missed.
There was misfortune because of the absence of Saim Ayub.
But this was South Africa’s day, in a season in which they have raised their Test match play to levels no-one — outside the players and coaching staff — could have foreseen.
Kyle Verreynne’s three centuries, Bavuma’s two and Ryan Rickelton’s monumental double hundred here, illustrated a growing maturity in what is still a young batting unit.
A World Test Championship final, at Lord’s against the mighty Australia, awaits. It will demand even more of them than the pressure they have faced in the last few months, chasing that spot in the final.
However, they have shown they can cope; that when more is asked, they will find the answers.
Full scoreboard here