Pakistan vs South Africa Match Highlights, 2nd Test (Day 1): Fawad & Babar brought back Pakistan into the game on the rain interrupted first day

Pakistan and South Africa are facing off in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium series from Thursday morning, February 4. Pakistan captain Babar Azam decided to bat after winning the toss and sent South Africa to bowl.

In the first over of the innings, Pakistan opener Imran Butt opened the book of scoring with two fours. After that, the opener batsman was dismissed for 15 runs off the spinner Keshav Maharaj while the team total was 21 runs. Azhar Ali came on the wicket then. But the batsman returned to the dressing room with zero runs after being bowled by Maharaj team total standing on 21 runs. When captain Babar Azam came to the wicket and wanted to make the partnership with Abid Ali, Abid Ali lost his wicket in a delivery of Anrich Nortje while the team total was 22 runs. The hosts lost 3 wickets for 22 runs and lost momentum of the match. They scored 1 run in six overs and lost three wickets and this 1 run came from no-ball. After that, captain Babar Azam and Fawad Alam teamed up for the wicket. The hosts went to lunch with 63 runs for the loss of three wickets in 29 overs.

Coming back from the break, Babar Azam and Fawad Alam started batting defensively. They got Pakistan back in the match with a fourth-wicket partnership from the edge of the ditch. These two batsmen left the South African bowlers sweating. Before going to the water break, Babar Azam picked up the 15th half-century of his career with 61 balls. Pakistan lost three wickets in 45 overs scoring 107 runs.

Coming back, these two batsmen spent more time in the crease for 13 overs. The African bowlers spread the heat at the beginning of the day but lost their energy at the end. As a result, the hosts went to the tea break with 145 runs without losing any new wickets further. But then the rain interrupted the game. As the rain didn’t subside, the first day’s game could not be played on the field. Babar Azam scored 77* runs and Fawad Alam scored 42* runs with both remaining unbeaten & the team total was 145 runs for the loss of three wickets. Anrich Nortje (1-30, 11 overs) and Keshav Maharaj (2-51, 25 overs) took the wickets for the Proteas. 

Playing XIs:

Pakistan – Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abid Ali, Babar Azam (c), Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali.  

South Africa – Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan (1st Innings) – 145/3 (58.0)

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Imran, 11.1 over), 2-21 (Azhar, 13.4 over), 3-22 (Abid, 14.5 over)

South Africa is trying to level the series after being defeated on the first one. Predict whether they will be able to do so & play on Baji!