Nauman, Yasir shine as Pak beat Proteas

KARACHI: Nauman Ali made a spectacular debut with five wickets and fellow spinner Yasir Shah grabbed four to give Pakistan a seven-wicket victory in the first Test against South Africa here on Friday. Nauman, making his Test bow at the age of 34, finished with 5/35 and Yasir took 4/79 as South Africa slumped to 245 all out in their second innings on the fourth day on a wearing National Stadium pitch that favoured spin bowlers.

Pakistan, needing 88 for victory, lost openers Abid Ali, Imran Butt and Babar Azam for a total of 52 runs before achieving the target in 22.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second Test starts on February 4 in Rawalpindi.

Azhar Ali was 31 not out while Fawad Alam—who hit a fighting hundred in the first innings—hit the winning boundary. It was Pakistan’s only fifth win against South Africa in 27 Tests. Anrich Nortje bowled Abid in the first over after lunch and then had Butt caught behind to finish with figures of 2/24. Azam, on his Test captaincy debut, was dismissed leg before by Keshav Maharaj. “The credit goes to the players,” said Azam. “Our bowling was outstanding on a slow pitch and the way Yasir and Nauman bowled, it helped us get wickets. When we lost four early wickets Fawad and Azhar put on a good partnership as they showed their experience. It gave us a boost and a very crucial lead.”

Azam’s counterpart Quinton de Kock, who endured a miserable 50th Test of his career, rued South Africa’s first innings collapse. “Our first innings cost us the game,” said de Kock. “That was a big reason for our loss.” Brief scores: South Africa 220 & 245 (A Markram 74; N Ali 5/35, Y Shah 4/79) lost to Pakistan 378 & 90/3 by seven wickets.