Match Report: Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test

Pakistan defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the opener of Pakistan vs South Africa series as the hosts go 1-0 in the two match Test series.

Domestic performers Fawad Alam and Nauman Ali were the star performers of the Test match. Fawad scored his third Test century with this one being is first in winning cause. Nauman meanwhile had his own record to make. He become the first ever Pakistani left-arm off-break bowler to take a five wicket haul on Test debut. He also became the ninth oldest player, 34 years and 111 days, to pick five wickets on debut.

South Africa did had a smile at one stage, when Anrich Nortje picked the openers right after lunch to quickly set Pakistan 23-2 while chasing 88. A possible win became for South Africa as Pakistan has a poor history of chasing small totals. Babar Azam and Azhar Ali made sure they did not make another mistake and took them to victory, with a loss of Babar when two runs were required.

The Pakistan vs South Africa was a big series as the Proteas side were coming to the country after 14 years. Let’s take a look at this Test match and how it went from South Africa overpowering Pakistan on first day to Pakistan winning the match on the fourth day.

Overview: Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test

Day 1

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first on a good Karachi strip. Pakistan, coming off to 2-0 loss against New Zealand, handed debut caps to batsman Imran Butt and spinner Nauman Ali. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Aiden Markram caught brilliant by Imran Butt at slips to kick off the Pakistan vs South Africa series.

From then, South Africa made partnerships but never been able to make it big. They found themselves at 136-5 with Dean Elgar top scored 58. Debutant Nauman Ali had two wickets while Imran Butt had taken two catches. Important partnership was build between Temba Bavuma and George Linde as they took South Africa near 175. The partnership was broken by Yasir’s quick burst of two wickets. South Africa then again had a mini-collapse, struggling at 195-9.

Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ndigi frustrated with 25 runs stand before Shaheen ended the innings. South Africa were 220 all-out.

Pakistan were suppose to see of the final session. But what followed was a disaster. They crumbled to 27-4 with Rabada picking two of them. Pakistan ended the day with 33-4, 187 runs behind. 220 suddenly became too big to cover in the start of this Pakistan vs South Africa series.

Day 2

Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam rebuild Pakistan with an important stand. The duo shared 94 runs together. Azhar got to his fifty but got out. Rizwan also was dismissed after a brief partnership. Then Faheem Ashraf paired up with Fawad and shared another huge stand of 102. Faheem brought up his fifty and Fawad brought his third century, a moment that brought smiles in this Pakistan vs South Africa series. Both batsmen were dismissed and Hasan and Nauman negotiate the final overs before they ended with 308-8, leading by 88 runs.

Day 3

Hasan was dismissed early on by Rabada, who picked his 200th wicket. Yasir Shah joined Nauman and the duo put on 55 for the final wicket. Nauman was finally dismissed and Pakistan were all-out for 378 runs, leading the visitors by 158 runs.

South Africa then began their second innings more positively. Dean Elgar however, was hit by Shaheen’s short ball and hurt his hand. As a result, he became Yasir Shah’s victim and South Africa were one down for 48. Pakistan had enjoyed the first session.

What happened afterwards is something South Africa needed. Aiden Markram and Rassie vd Dussen paired up post lunch and the duo added 127. They both brought up their fifties and played on. They were steadier even after tea break and hoping to end the day with a good, early lead.

Yasir finally struck just when thirty minutes were remaining. He dismissed vd Dussen and South Africa suffered a mini-collapse. From 175-1, they ended the day at 187-4. Yasir and Nauman picked two more and Pakistan had something to smile at the end.

Day 4

Hasan Ali straight away picked Keshav Maharaj and Yasir got Quinton de Kock. South Africa continued to suffered a mini-collapse from overnight as they went from 175-1 to 192-6, loosing five wickets for 17 runs. Once again, Temba Bavuma and George Linde carried South Africa with their 42 run stand. Nauman ran through the line-up along with some tight fielding saw South Africa again suffered a mini-collapse, loosing their final four wickets for just 11 runs as they were bowled out for 245.

Pakistan were set a target of 88 runs. The openers first saw off till lunch. But post lunch, Nortje dismissed the openers. Babar Azam and Azhar Ali carried Pakistan from 23-2 with their stand of 63, a quick stand. Babar, for the second time, was dismissed by Maharaj via LBW as he could not finish it off.

That brought in Fawad Alam. It turned out to be a perfect script as the batsman hit the final winning runs and Pakistan had won a Test match against South Africa after seven years. It was a good Test match this Pakistan vs South Africa series.

Fawad Alam was awarded the Man of the Match award for his very important century and Pakistan went 1-0 in the series. The second Test between in Pakistan vs South Africa series will begin on February 4 in Rawalpindi.

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