Babar, Fawad solid after Pakistan lose three wickets in morning session

A stable and unbeaten 41-run partnership off 85 deliveries by captain Babar Azam and middle-order batsman Fawad Alam steadied the ship for Pakistan, as the teams headed for lunch, after the first session of the first innings for the Men in Green on day one after a shaky start which saw South Africa pick up three top-order wickets and pile on the pressure on the hosts.

The teams headed for lunch with Pakistan putting up 63 runs on the board with the loss of three wickets in 29 overs after the Men in Green’s skipper Babar Azam had won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Test against South Africa being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Captain Babar Azam remained unbeaten after scoring 24 runs off 38 deliveries while left-handed batsman Fawad Alam continued his superb form going into lunch unbeaten after scoring 16 runs off 49 deliveries.

The stable partnership however was in stark contrast to the earlier part of the session as the top-order batsmen scratched, clawed and eventually fell to the persistent Proteas side.

Opener Imran Butt opened his account with a stunning cover drive off fast-bowler Kagiso Rabada which promised a fluent innings. However, in the space of a few deliveries the opener edged a delivery which flew threw a vacant gap at slip as the bowler started to find his stride.

Opener Abid Ali also seemed unsure in the start, being hit on the pads and edging a few as he attempted to leave.

The introduction of Keshav Maharaj in the eighth over brought the first real chance for the Proteas as he coerced an edge from Imran Butt, who had scored 13 runs off 22 balls, which was dropped by fielder Temba Bavuma at first slip.

Maharaj however would not be denied as he persisted with an impeccable line and length which drew another edge from the jittery opener that was safely grasped by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as Butt departed after scoring 15 runs off 36 deliveries.

The left-arm spinner then trapped veteran batsman Azhar Ali dead in front for an LBW for a duck to put the Men in Green under pressure.

Abid Ali, who had not looked at ease during his stay at the crease, was then removed after a stunning one-handed catch to the right by fielder Aiden Markram at short leg off the bowling of Anrich Nortje. The opener departed after scoring 6 runs off 43 deliveries as Pakistan sunk to a scoreline of 22 runs for the loss of three wickets before the stable partnership between Babar and Fawad.

Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowlers in the first session, picking up two important wickets because of his impeccable line and length.