Runs, wickets, drop catches, heated exchanges galored on the first day of the first Test in Centurion. Pakistan were bowled out for 211 before South Africa ended the day on 82/3. 13 wickets fell in the day but it will be South Africa who will be the happier side.
After opting to bowl first on a greenish pitch and overcast conditions, South Africa started well with the ball. They posed constant questions to the Pakistan openers, Saim Ayub and Shan Masood. Kagiso Rabada, in particular, went past the bat on numerous occasions but just couldn’t find the edge.
In fact, the premier South Africa fast bowler even induced the edge off Ayub which was dropped in the cordon from Tristan Stubbs. Both Ayub and Masood got a couple of boundaries and got through the first hour without any damage.
However, things changed rapidly in the second hour. Debutant Corbin Bosch struck with his first ball in Test cricket. The Durban-born speedster forced Masood to drive away from the body and Marco Jansen pouched a sharp catch at gully. Ayub nicked one to the keeper to give Dane Paterson his first wicket. The latter got the big fish Babar Azam (who was returning to the Test side after being left out of the last two Tests against England) in his next over as the latter edged to the cordon.
Saud Shakeel walked in and hit three boundaries in the same over before he gloved one down the leg side. Bosch got his second wicket as Pakistan slipped from 36/0 to 56/4 in the space of 4.2 overs.
That’s when Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan stitched a fighting partnership on either side of lunch. The former was very proactive. He pounced on anything loose and kept getting boundaries at regular intervals. There were plenty of plays and misses, especially from Rizwan. But Ghulam and Rizwan added 81 runs for the fifth wicket.
It was Ghulam who did the bulk of the scoring. He was dropped on 48 and Rabada was the unlucky bowler again. But he batted on and struck eight fours along with a six in his 71-ball knock as he notched up a fine half-century. But the 29-year-old batter threw it away.
Ghulam charged down the track and attempted a big hoick which only saw him get a top-edge to deep square-leg. Rizwan who was playing second fiddle fell soon after as well as Paterson dismissed him to get his fourth of the innings. Pakistan were in trouble at 142/6 at that stage.
Aamer Jamal walked out and played his shots. He hit four fours and a six in 27 balls before he chopped one back onto his stumps. It was Bosch who broke through as he ended a counter-attacking 47-run stand between Jamal and Salman Ali Agha.
After Jamal was dismissed, Pakistan’s lower order fell away and were reduced to 189/9. The 10th wicket stand frustrated South Africa for more than seven overs. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas added 22 runs for the last wicket to help Pakistan add some vital runs at the end.
Paterson finished with five while Bosch returned with four. Jansen was the one who picked up the final wicket while Rabada remained wicketless despite bowling really well.
Aiden Markram helps South Africa get off to a positive start
In reply to Pakistan’s 211, South Africa lost a couple of early wickets. Khurram Shahzad knocked over Tony de Zorzi with a peach before he had Ryan Rickelton nicking to the keeper. The hosts were reduced to 24/2 in the 7th over. It seemed like Pakistan had a sniff.
However, Aiden Markram batted positively. Despite losing partners from one end, he held his fort and kept the scoreboard ticking. He looked in solid touch as he hit nine boundaries in his 67-ball (unbeaten) stay at the crease.
Tristan Stubbs started decently as well but Mohammad Abbas who made a comeback to the Test side after three and a half years got one to keep very low and that hit the pads. Captain Temba Bavuma came in and saw off the day alongside Markram. The Pakistan pacers bowled well but were slightly inconsistent.
South Africa are 129 runs behind. With Markram batting beautifully and Bavuma in good form, they will fancy their chances of taking a good lead. There is help for the pacers and hence, Pakistan will need to strike early on day two.
BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 211 (Kamran Ghulam 54, Aamer Jamal 28, Dane Paterson 5/61, Corbin Bosch 4/63) vs South Africa 82/3 (Aiden Markram 47*, Khurram Shahzad 2/26, Mohammad Abbas 1/36).
