Pak vs SA: Pakistan top order fails to make an impact

CENTURION: The first test between Pakistan and South Africa is set to begin at 1:00 PM. The men in green will look to build on the momentum they gained from becoming the first team ever to whitewash South Africa at their home ground.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first.

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Saim Ayub and skipper Shan Masood opened for Pakistan and together put up a partnership of 36 runs of 89 balls. Masood was the first wicket to fall on Thursday, on a delivery from Corbin Bosch in the 15th over. It was the first delivery of Corbin’s test career, making him the 25th player in cricket history to take a wicket on their first ever ball in the format. Masood’s attempt at a drive went awry, allowing Bosch’s delivery to take a thick outside edge before being caught by Marco Jansen at slip. The Pakistani skipper only made 17 runs before he was dismissed.

Ayub fell in the very next over, giving Dane Patterson his first wicket of the day. Patterson’s delivery brushed against the edge of Ayub’s bat on its way to Proteas wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne. The Pakistani opener’s streak of impressive performances came to an end, as he only managed to make 14 runs in the innings.

Paterson picked up his second wicket in the 18th over, dismissing Babar Azam on a wide delivery that he poked his bat at, allowing Aiden Markham to take the catch at third slip. Babar only made four runs off one boundary, which he hit on the first ball he faced, before leaving the field.

Saud Shakeel hit three boundaries in the 18th over, trying to bring some life back into the Pakistan batting line-up. But he was sent off in the very next over on a delivery from Bosch, giving the debutant the second wicket of his career. The ball missed Shakeel’s bat, but the Pakistani batter gloved the delivery to Verreynne.

Kamran Ghulam added energy to Pakistan’s innings by scoring 54 runs — the highest by any Pakistan batter in the innings so far. He hit eight 4s and one 6 before being dismissed by Dane Paterson in the 37th over.

Two overs later, Dane Paterson struck again by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan. The wicketkeeper scored just 27 runs off 62 deliveries.

Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch proved devastating for Pakistan batting lineup. In 48th over, Bosch dismissed Aamir Jamal for 28. The 8th wicket of Pakistan fell to Dane Paterson in the 49th over. He dismissed Salman Ali Agha for18.

Continuing his spell, Corbin Bosch came again to take Pakistan’s 9th wicket at 189 runs. He dismissed Naseem Shah at duck.

All the nine wickets of Pakistan were taken by Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson; the former took 4 while the latter took 5 wickets.

The last wicket of Pakistan fell to Marco Jansen, who dismissed Khurram Shahzad for 11.

Pakistan scored a total of 211 runs in 57.3 overs.

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Winning both tests is vital for Pakistan in order to have any chance of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship finals. South Africa is currently first in the table, while Pakistan are seventh.

Pakistan’s squad for the two tests and their playing XI for the first was revealed earlier. Shan Masood continues to lead the red-ball side, hoping to win his second series as skipper after beating England 2-1 earlier this year in October.

PAKISTAN SQUAD: Shan Masood (skipper), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.

PAKISTAN PLAYING XI: Shan Masood (skipper), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.

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