Aiming to cement their top spot in the World Test Championship, South Africa’s decision to field first was backed well by their new ball bowlers. But the opening pair of Saim Ayub and Shan Masood withstood them for the first hour, albeit the edges were beaten quite often. Captain Temba Bavuma summoned debutant Corbin Bosch after the first session’s drinks break and the quick trapped the opposition skipper on his international career’s first delivery. Dane Patterson followed it up by baiting Babar Azam and Saim Ayub before the debutant removed Saud Shakeel, leaving Pakistan at 88/4 in 24 overs at the cusp of Lunch.
Resuming from where they left off, Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam showed composure against the old ball and kept the scoreboard ticking. The pair added 81 runs together before Paterson claimed his third wicket as Bavuma’s subtle change in bowling worked. Rizwan followed suit after Ghulam was a goner with a fifty. Bosch and Paterson hunted as a pair by minimising the opposition to 209/9 in 57 overs at Tea.
Although the extended thirty minutes of play in the second session didn’t yield the lone wicket the Proteas aimed, it took three balls for Marco Jansen to nail the task as Pakistan folded for 211.
In response, Tony de Zorzi failed to gleam with the bat but Aiden Markram tried to neutralise the Pakistani attack with formidable technique. Ryan Rickelton looked well during his short stay but Khurram Shahzad outnumbered him to scalp his second wicket in the seventh over. Subsequently, Tristan Stubbs and Markram consolidated 42 runs together before the former was lbw in the 16th over. However, Markram continued to excel under bright conditions as South Africa concluded the day at 82/3.
Kamran Ghulam said “F**K YOU” to Rabada and Verreynne.
Funny how all this aggression is coming from a team ranked No. 7, struggling on the points table, while South Africa is cruising at No. 3, soon to be No. 2 and eyeing the WTC final. Be in your limit Pakistan.#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/KVcnaAdSgA— H🇿🇦 (@MarkramBot) December 26, 2024
This Fraud man is only playing because of his English skills not because of cricketing skill.
He is the only person in the team who can understand and Speak English 😭🤡
Fraud @shani_official retire ASAP #PAKvsSA #SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/gcCdirGsdg— Third Man (@ThirdManX) December 26, 2024
Great day for him!
Yeah that was it!
Day 1 Stump
South Africa 82/3
In 22 over
Pakistan 211/10
In 57.3 Over
#PakvsSa #SavsPak #ausvind #indvsaus #viratkohli #viralvideo #trending #everyone— Muhammad Aqdas (@Lookhere6700) December 26, 2024
Babar Azam 4(11) Vs South Africa.
Surely a consistent player.
He is maintaining his consistency in failing.#PAKvsSA #SAvPAK #BoxingDayTest #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/2DLdr3SvBs— The PCT Army. (@thepctarmy0) December 26, 2024
LOL!
Yes!
What a brilliant catch by Mohammad Rizwan!#PakistanCricket#PAKvsSA pic.twitter.com/EwUuBpbgSP
— Cric Updates (@mubeena79427) December 26, 2024
What A bowled by Khuram shehzad..!
🔥🔥🔥#PakistanCricket #PAKvsSA #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/UoUKlhXG4e— Mubashar Mobi (@mubashar_mobi) December 26, 2024
Agreed!
