Pak vs SA: Pakistan four wickets down, chasing South Africa's 220-run target in first Test
Home series being played behind closed doors because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic
January 26, 2021
- Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Afridi sent back to the pavilion
- Pakistan and South Africa entered the Test with two spinners and three pace bowlers
- Two-match Test series marks S Africa's first tour to Pakistan in 14 years
KARACHI: Pakistan lost four wickets in quick succession to South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Karachi's National Stadium on Tuesday after bowling out the Proteas for 220.
Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Afridi were sent back to the pavilion as Pakistan chased the 220-run target during the first face-off of the two-match series marking South Africa's first tour to the country in 14 years.
Spinners Yasir Shah (3-54) and debutant Nauman Ali (2-38) derailed the tourists on a brownish pitch after South Africa won the toss and batted.
Dean Elgar top-scored with 58 while George Linde made 35.
Left-armer Nauman dismissed South African skipper Quinton de Kock (15) and Dean Elgar (58) as South Africa fumbled from a steady 94-2 at lunch.
At tea, Geroge Linde (25) and Keshav Maharaj (nought) were at the crease as South Africa — who won the toss and batted — were left to fight.
Opener Elgar struck his 16th Test half-century, laced with nine boundaries before he edged Nauman into the hands of Babar Azam in the slip.
Elgar and Faf du Plessis (23) had steadied the innings during their 45-run stand for the third wicket after Aiden Markram (13) and Rassie van der Dussen (17) were dismissed in the first session.
Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had Markram caught in the slip, while van der Dussen was run out after attempting a quick single.
Soon after lunch, du Plessis — dropped on 14 off Yasir — edged the same bowler to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan while de Kock played a rash shot off Nauman and was caught at mid-wicket, unable to make his 50th Test memorable.
Temba Bavuma and Linde added 43 for the sixth wicket before Bavuma was run out after he misjudged a second run and was smartly beaten by a good Hasan Ali throw from the deep.
Both Pakistan and South Africa entered the Test with two spinners and three pace bowlers.
The two-match Test series marks the first tour by South Africa to Pakistan in 14 years, a positive step for the revival of international cricket in the host country.
A deadly attack on Sri Lanka’s team in 2009 froze international tours to Pakistan before their gradual reintroduction in recent years.
