Staff Report
Rawalpindi: Pakistan took four South Africa wickets to take command of the second Test at Pindi Cricket Stadium after Faheem Ashraf and Anrich Nortje starred in the first innings.
South Africa were in trouble at 106/4 but skipper Quinton de Kock took on the Pakistani bowlers and scored pacy 24 late in the day.
Earlier, Faheem Ashraf rescued Pakistan with an unbeaten 78 after the home side lost captain Babar Azam and Fawad Alam early.
Babar was sent back to pavilion on the second ball of the day by Nortje while Fawad put himself in trouble as he took a risky single. The 26-year-old Babar made 77 while Fawad scored 45.
Vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan didn’t look at his best as he had the slowest of the starts. He started to build on partnership with Faheem but the second new-ball did the trick for the visitors.
Rizwan (18 off 68) went to hook a short-pitched delivery by Nortje, going straight into the hands of Kagiso Rabada at fine-leg.
The wickets at the other end didn’t cause much trouble for Faheem as he continued to take on bowlers. He completed his fourth Test fifty soon after Hasan Ali’s dismissal by smacking a straight drive off Rabada.
After Lunch, Pakistan were wrapped up by the visitors, dismissing them for 272 with Nortje starring with 5/56. It was Nortje’s third fifer in this format.
Proteas openers started their innings with a good run-rate, however, pacer Hasan Ali at the stroke of tea, dismissed Dean Elgar (15) and Rassie van der Dussen (0) on the score of 26.
Former captain Faf du Plessis managed 17 before he was caught behind off pacer Faheem Ashraf, playing a loose shot.
Four over before close opener Aiden Markram’s fighting 60-ball 32 ended as Nauman Ali was rewarded for his persistent bowling.
Markram top-edged spinner Nauman Ali to Shaheen Shah Afridi at mid-wicket, leaving South Africa at 81-4.
