CENTURION:
Pakistan’s bowlers hit back after the tourists were bowled out for 211 on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
Khurram Shahzad struck twice and Mohammad Abbas claimed a late wicket as South Africa reached 82 for three at the close.
Dane Paterson and debutant Corbin Bosch did most of the damage for South Africa after Pakistan were sent in to bat on a well-grassed pitch.
Paterson, enjoying a late-career surge at the age of 35, took five for 61 – his second five-wicket haul in successive Tests – while Bosch took four for 63.
Kamran Ghulam made a counter-attacking 54 off 71 balls for Pakistan.
Bosch claimed a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket when Pakistan captain Shan Masood edged a drive to Marco Jansen at fourth slip after Masood and Saim Ayub put on 36 for the first wicket.
The openers batted patiently in the first hour but the tempo of the innings changed after Masood’s dismissal.
Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed said in a pre-match television interview that he didn’t expect a significant difference in approach from his players after they beat South Africa 3-0 in a one-day series which ended on Sunday.
Javed reasoned that it was the sort of pitch on which positive stroke play was required to score runs in seam-friendly conditions.
It seemed the majority of Pakistan’s batsmen were still in aggressive one-day mode. Both Paterson and Bosch benefitted from batsmen playing poor strokes.
Saud Shakeel played an extraordinary innings after going out to bat with his side on 41 for three after Ayub and Babar Azam quickly followed Masood back to the dressing room.
Shakeel hit three boundaries off his first five balls before gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne to be out for 14 off six balls.
Ghulam was undeterred, racing to a 52-ball half-century and sharing a rapid 81-run fifth-wicket stand with Mohammad Rizwan (27).
Ghulam went for his shots, sometimes to the frustration of the South African bowlers, and his feisty effort included an exchange of words with Kagiso Rabada – South Africa’s most impressive bowler despite not taking a wicket – and Verreynne.
Ghulam was out in bizarre fashion, charging down the pitch to Paterson and top-edging a slog to long leg. AFP
Babar Azam achieves major milestone in Test cricket
The milestone came on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa
Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam has completed his 4000 runs in Test cricket. The milestone came on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, with Babar reaching the mark during his innings in the opening match of the two-match series at the Centurion.
Babar needed just three runs to reach the 4000-run mark in the longest format of the game, and he achieved this feat in style, scoring a boundary off Corbin Bosch to bring up his 4000th Test run. The right-handed batter flicked a low full delivery past square leg to the boundary, marking his achievement with minimal fuss.
With this remarkable feat, Babar joins the exclusive list of players who have scored 4000 runs in Test cricket, 5000 runs in ODIs, and 2000 runs in T20Is.
He is only the third player to score over 4000 runs in all three formats of the game.
