On the opening day of the first Test match against South Africa at Centurion’s SuperSport Park on Thursday, Pakistan’s bowlers responded after the tourists were dismissed for 211.
Mohammad Abbas took a late wicket and Khurram Shahzad struck twice as South Africa finished at 82 for three.
Together with Dane Paterson, South African fast bowler Corbin Bosch claimed a wicket with his maiden ball in Test cricket, bringing Pakistan’s total score down to 209 runs for nine at teatime.
After winning the toss and placing the tourists in the batting position, South Africa maintained the lead with Paterson taking 5-61 in 16 overs and Bosch taking 4-63 in 15 overs on his debut.
As the second change in a fierce four-man bowling lineup that dominated the day’s events, the 30-year-old Bosch had a spectacular debut by taking out Pakistan skipper Shan Masood. After many injuries to their usual fast bowlers, Bosch was recruited into the South African team to play on his home field. He took advantage of the occasion, taking two wickets in the first session and two more after lunch.
He became the 25th player to capture a wicket with his first ball on his test debut when he got Masood caught at third slip by Marco Jansen.
It was the day’s first wicket, and Paterson soon took two more. He took Ayub out for 14 and then dismissed Babar Azam, who had been dropped during Pakistan’s most recent test series against England, for just four runs when pushing at a ball outside the off stump.
Before noon, Bosch took a second wicket when Saud Shakeel gloved a delivery behind, resulting in the batsman being dismissed for 14 only after South Africa had contested the umpire’s first not-out call.
After lunch, Paterson dismissed Kamran Ghulam for 54 off 71 balls, capping a promising comeback as Pakistan scored 81 runs for the fifth wicket. Rabada caught Ghulam after he came down the wicket to the bowler, was squeezed up by a short delivery, and top edged high into the heavens.
Soon after, when Paterson claimed a fourth wicket, Mohammad Rizwan (27), edged to Aiden Markram at second slip.
Salman Agha was caught off Paterson’s short delivery, Aamer Jamal was bowled by Bosch after playing onto a longer delivery, and Bosch then removed Naseem Shah without scoring, causing Pakistan to lose three wickets without scoring.
Khurram Shahzad (9) and Mohammad Abbas (10) defied the bowlers with an undefeated 20-run partnership for the tenth wicket, but South Africa was unable to secure the final wicket despite the second session being prolonged by thirty minutes with nine wickets down.
