KARACHI: Pakistani spinners Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali grabbed three wickets in the space of 10 runs shortly before the close to halt South Africa’s fightback on the third day of the first Test at Karachi National Stadium.
At Stumps South Africa was on 187/4 with Keshav Maharaj and skipper Quinton de Kock in the middle. Spinners Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali claimed crucial three wickets in the last session to hurt the visitors.
South African openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar came out with the goal of wiping Pakistan’s 158-run lead. A 48-run partnership at the top set the stage for South Africa’s batting performance for the day.
Yasir Shah remove the well-set Dean Elgar (29 runs off 45 deliveries), who was out caught-behind.
Markram was then joined in the middle by batsman Rassie van der Dussen and the duo knitted together a partnership of 127 runs. The Proteas seemed on track to end the day on a high before a dramatic flurry of wickets.
Dussen fell to Yasir Shah, late in the day, as fielder Abid Ali held on to a sharp chance at silly mid-on. The veteran batsman Faf du Plessis (10 runs off 21 deliveries) fell to spinner Yasir Shah quickly.
Spinner Nouman Ali soon joined the late surge, picking up the vital wicket of opener Aiden Markram. With mounting pressure, batsman Quinton de Kock and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj saw off the resurgent Pakistan attack to make sure their side finished the day with just four wickets down.
