Masood's reaction after claiming Markram's wicket

Part-time bowler removed the opener on the final ball of day one during the second Test

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan batsman Shan Masood was pleasantly shocked after removing dangerous looking South Africa opener Aiden Markram on the final ball of the first day of second Test match in Cape Town.

Markram, who had not reached 20 in his previous six Test innings, struck the ball firmly in reaching a half-century off 64 balls with 11 fours. He added another three fours and a straight six off leg-spinner Yasir Shah before being bowled by part-time seamer Masood at the end of the day after a 96-ball innings with a ball which nipped back and kept low.

"I don't consider myself a bowler at all," said Masood. "But hopefully it has opened the door for us."

Masood also praised the way home side bowled during the first innings.

"They keep coming in, they keep hitting the areas and they keep putting pressure on you. I mean I thought after lunch, I got a few decent balls away and I was set but Rabada came in again and bowled in an area that eventually got me out, " he said.

The left- hander also hoped that the Pakistan batsmen will put up a better show in the second innings.

"We know they are a quality side and bowling unit, especially in their home conditions but we know the challenges and we got to be up for it. Hopefully in the second innings as a batting unit we can put a solid batting display," he said

On the opening day, Duanne Olivier led another fast bowling assault on Pakistan’s batsmen as South Africa took control of the second Test at Newlands on Thursday. Olivier took four for 48 as Pakistan were bowled out for 177 after being sent in on a hard, green-tinged pitch.

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed hit 56 and Shan Masood made 44 to lift an otherwise poor Pakistan batting performance.

Markram struck an assured 78 as South Africa reached 123 for two at the close.