Late strikes keep Pakistan on top in first South Africa Test

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

South Africa produced a stellar display of attritional batting on day three of the first Test against Pakistan to spark a dramatic turnaround after their lackluster effort in the first innings.

On a pitch that had flattened considerably as compared to the first two days, the 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 as the batsmen bided their time in an effort to grind the Pakistan bowlers.

It took the brilliance of wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, off the bowling of leg-spinner Yasir Shah, to 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 quickly set about their long vigil at the crease. The batsmen knitted together a partnership of 127 runs after facing a mammoth 310 balls.

The Proteas seemed on track to end the day on a high before a dramatic flurry of wickets towards the end dented their flawless performance with the bat for most of the day.

Dussen fell to Yasir Shah, late in the day, as fielder Abid Ali held on to a sharp chance at silly mid-on. The batsman had made 64 runs off 151 balls however his dismissal opened the floodgates as the Pakistan bowlers continued to put pressure on the new batsmen.

The veteran batsman Faf du Plessis (10 runs off 21 deliveries) fell to spinner Yasir Shah quickly, trapped LBW dead in front, much to the jubilation of the Pakistan bowlers who had toiled without much reward throughout the better part of the day.

Spinner Nouman Ali soon joined the late surge, picking up the vital wicket of opener Aiden Markram, caught again at silly mid-on by fielder Abid Ali, after the batsman had blocked the bowlers for 224 deliveries scoring 74 runs.

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.

In the end, the Proteas made 187 runs and lead by 29 runs at the end of day three. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up three wickets while a solitary wicket from fellow spinner Nauman Ali helped the Men in Green tremendously as well. 

Earlier, Pakistan needed to add some quick runs to their first-innings lead from day two with just two wickets in hand. 

Tailender Hasan Ali, whose batting credentials received a significant boost with a match-turning century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, was the first to depart after being unable to handle the raw pace of fast-bowler Kagiso Rabada. He was bowled after scoring 21 runs off 33 deliveries.

As the last wicket of the Men in Green, tailender Yasir Shah came out swinging and was able to stitch a 55-run partnership off 64 deliveries with fellow tailender Nauman Ali, much to the frustration of the Proteas bowlers.

Yasir Shah remained unbeaten towards the end of Pakistan’s first innings as Nauman Ali was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj after scoring 24 runs off 49 deliveries.

Pakistan ended with a lead of 158 runs, which seemed substantial at the time, but proved insignificant towards the end of day three.

Among South Africa’s bowlers, pacer Kagiso Rabada and spinner Keshav Maharaj picked up three wickets each while pacers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi took two wickets each.