KARACHI: South Africa hit back with four wickets after being bowled out for 220 as bowlers dominated day one of the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi.
After reducing the Proteas side to a small total of 220 in their first innings, the Pakistan side was provided a rude awakening as South African bowlers ripped through their top-order.
On his international cricket return, the right-arm fast bowler Kagiso Rabada shined in the late moment of the day. He dismissed both the Pakistan openers very quickly in hosts’ first innings as Abid Ali (4) was bowled in the 5th over of that innings and debutant Imran Butt (9) lost his wicket in the seventh over.
The left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took the big wicket of the hosts’ captain Babar Azam (7) on his third ball of the match as he trapped Babar for lbw. Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje broke the middle-stump of the night-watchman Shaheen Shah Afridi.
At the stumps of the day, both Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam were not out on 5 runs each. Batsmen Azhar Ali (5 runs off 40 deliveries) and Fawad Alam (5 runs off 3 balls) remained not out.
Earlier, South Africa’s captain Quinton de Kock won the toss and elected to bat first. Shaheen Shah found his groove early picking up the edge of opener Aiden Markram.
Rassie van der Dussen (17 runs off 30 deliveries) was the next to depart, as wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan charged to the wickets in a Jonty Rhodes-esque manner to complete the run-out.
Veteran batsman Faf du Plessis was undone by leg-spinner Yasir Shah as Rizwan collected a simple catch behind stumps. Skipper Quinton de Kock took an ill-advised chance against debutant left-arm spinner Nauman Ali which landed in the capable hands of fielder Imran Butt.
Opener Dean Elgar, who had been in superb touch, was then quickly removed by Nauman. Elgar was able to score 58 runs off 106 deliveries.
In the bowling department, Veteran leg-spinner Yasir Shah, however, was the pick of the bowlers for the Men in Green picking up three wickets while giving away 54 runs in 22 overs.
