Day 2 of the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park was halted early due to bad light, with only about 20 minutes of play left. With a promising start on Day 1, Pakistan faced significant challenges as South Africa took control, with Aiden Markram scoring a solid 89 and debutant Corbin Bosch 81* leading the charge.
Bosch’s maiden half-century, scored off just 46 balls, along with his record-breaking performance as a debutant at No. 9, allowed South Africa to build a 90-run lead in the first innings.
The match was balanced when Aiden Markram, the opening batsman, was dismissed for 89, leaving South Africa at 213 for eight, just two runs ahead of Pakistan’s first-innings score of 211.
After lunch, South Africa lost four wickets for 35 runs, with Naseem Shah claiming three in a fast, aggressive spell. It seemed like the teams would start the second innings on almost equal terms.
Bosch struck 15 boundaries in a 93-ball knock, It was part of a stunning debut for Bosch, 30, who took four wickets for 63 runs in the first innings and bowled at 147km/h, the quickest speed of any bowler in the match.
Pakistan responded in their second innings with a solid 49-run opening stand, but Kagiso Rabada produced a beauty that beat Saim Ayub’s bat and clipped off the bails.
Jansen then dismissed well-set Pakistani skipper Shan Masood, who was caught at third slip, and first innings top-scorer Kamran Ghulam, who smashed a boundary through covers was caught at gully for eight on the next ball before bad light stopped the play.
South Africa would reach next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time if they win either match in this two-Test series.
Once again, Babar Azam, who is 16 not out, will be expected to do more than what other teams might expect. If he does, it won’t be a surprise.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
