First Test: Late wickets put South Africa on top
Pakistan finish day one at 33-4
Photo: AFP
Pakistan were 33-4 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday.
Star right-arm pacer Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed two wickets whereas spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed the prized scalp of Babar Azam.
Abid Ali managed to score just four runs being getting knocked over by the pacer. Debutante Imran Butt managed just three before he was caught for nine and captain Babar Azam was dismissed leg before wicket.
Nightwatchman Shaheen Shah Afridi also went back to the pavilion without scoring as he was bowled on the bowling of Anrich Nortje.
The home team still trail Proteas by 187 runs in the first innings.
Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 220 in the first innings, courtesy some very good bowling performance from the Men in Green.
Tea:
South Africa were 179-6 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at Karachi’s National Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts took four wickets before the end of second session, thanks to the spin duo of Yasir Shah and newcomer Nauman Ali.
Resuming the proceedings at 94-2 with opener Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis on the crease, leggie Yasir bagged his first wicket as he dismissed the latter for 23 and the Proteas found themselves at the score of 108-3.
The visitors were reduced to 133-4 with debutant Nauman Anwar getting the prized wicket of captain Quinton de Kock who was caught at the score of 15.
Half-centurion Elgar’s resistance ended as he became Nauman’s second victim on 58.
The situation went dire as Temba Bavuma was run out for 17, leaving the side at 179-6.
George Linde and Keshav Maharaj will come out to bat in the final session. Linde is not out on 25 while Maharaj is yet to open his account.
Being asked to bat first, the opening pair of Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram put on a 30-run partnership before the latter was dismissed for 13 as he was caught in the slips by debutant Imran Butt off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bowling.
The visitors lost their second wicket at the score of 63 as Rassie van der Dussen went for 17 after a horrible mix up between the wickets.
Elgar and veteran Faf du Plessis are unbeaten at 46 and 14 respectively.
Quinton de Kock’s side are playing their first Test in Pakistan in over 13 years. They won the previous two-match series by 1-0 back in 2007.
The two sides are heading into the fixture on the back of contrasting performances. The Proteas completed a 2-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka at home whereas Pakistan suffered a 2-0 clean sweep by hosts New Zealand.
Batsman Imran Butt and spinner Nauman Ali are making their Test debuts for the Green Caps.
Teams
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (captain and wicketkeeper), George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi.
Pakistan XI: Abid Ali, Imran Butt (debut), Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (captain), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Yasir Shah and Shaheen Afridi
