Rabada, Maharaj fire back
A TWO-WICKET burst from Kagiso Rabada and the crucial scalp of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam by Keshav Maharaj gave South Africa the initiative after they had earlier been dismissed for 220 on a drama-filled first day of the first Test against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday.
In all, 14 wickets fell in the day, only the second time this has happened in a Test match in Karachi.
South Africa’s evening got even better when paceman Anrich Nortje bowled night watchman Shaheen Afridi just before the close to reduce Pakistan to 33 for four wickets in 18 overs, still 187 shy of South Africa’s seemingly moderate total.
At the close, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam were unbeaten on five apiece with the home team still having plenty to do to get back into the match they had earlier appeared to be in control of.
The tourists will have been particularly delighted to have seen the back of Pakistan’s star batsman and new captain, Azam, who came into the match having scored three centuries in a row.
Rabada bowled superbly in the final session, piercing Abid Ali’s defences in his third over with one that kept a little low but also appeared to beat the opener for pace as it knocked back his off stump.
Then, in his next over, the paceman managed
the considerable feat of getting one to rise sharply off a length on a slow, fairly lifeless pitch to catch debutant Imran Butt’s glove, the ball looping gently to substitute fielder Keegan Petersen at backward short leg.
That made the total 15 for two wickets and it was Maharaj who then struck the critical blow when his arm ball trapped Azam in front as he pushed forward.
The Pakistan skipper reviewed but the ball was shown to be squarely hitting his leg stump. — SuperSport.