- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP):Pakistani batters posted a total of 259 runs for five in 91 overs against South Africa on the first day of the second Test match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Opting to bat first in the Test match, which saw left-arm spinner Asif Afridi making his Test debut for Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq provided a 35-run start to the innings before the left-handed batter Imam was bowled by Simon Harmer in the 13th over for 17 off 35 balls, including two fours.
Skipper Shan joined Abdullah and the pair ensured there was no further wicket before lunch or soon after, as Abdullah (57, 4x4s, 146b) fell on the stroke of the tea interval with Pakistan 146 for two in 50.5 overs.
Babar Azam, after hitting three fours, was caught by de Zorzi for 16 off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj, who returned to play for South Africa after missing the first Test due to injury.
Captain Shan Masood who missed out on his seventh Test century, was the next batter to return to the pavilion, scoring 87 off 176 balls, which included three sixes and two fours. With the new ball taken by the touring side after 84 overs, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan fell to Kagiso Rabada for 19 off 39 balls, hitting two fours. At stumps, Saud Shakeel returned undefeated on 42 off 105 balls, striking three boundaries, while Salman Ali Agha was not out on 10 off 25 balls, which included one boundary. For South Africa, Maharaj and Harmer bagged two wickets each.
Following the match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in a press conference, Pakistan’s opener Abdullah Shafique remarked that the outfield conditions were comparatively slower than those in Lahore, resulting in fewer runs being scored.
Commenting on South Africa’s dropped catches, Shafique acknowledged the unpredictable nature of cricket but expressed satisfaction that the situation ultimately favored his team.
“I am working on correcting my mistakes in the nets to improve my performance. Once settled at the crease, my focus is to play an innings that benefits the team by scoring meaningful runs,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Shafique noted that the pitch is expected to slow down further in the coming days, which will likely assist the spinners.
He emphasized the importance of the first innings, saying, “We aim to extend the innings to around 320-350 runs, allowing our batsmen to spend more time at the crease. This will give us an advantage in bowling, especially with increased spin.”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj addressed the issue of dropped catches, underscoring their significance in Test cricket.
“We understand how crucial catches are. Although it was frustrating to miss some, the team showed resilience by taking the subsequent opportunities. No one wants to drop catches,” he said.
Maharaj also reflected on the pitch conditions, observing that the wicket did not behave like the one in Lahore and offered less assistance to spin bowlers.
“It was a balanced day, and we focused on controlling Pakistan’s run rate. Had we taken one more wicket, we believe we could have gained the upper hand,” he said.
Scores in brief: Pakistan 259-5, 91 overs (Shan Masood 87, Abdullah Shafique 57, Saud Shakeel 42 not out; Keshav Maharaj 2-63, Simon Harmer 2-75).