First Test: Debutant Bosch defies Pakistan comeback to give South Africa lead

With Aiden Markram’s steady innings of 89 runs — just 11 runs short of a ton — and a swift cameo from debutant Corbin Bosch ( 81 runs off 93 balls) South Africa garnered lead of 90 runs against Pakistan on the second day of the first test in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 211.

Coming in to bat for the second innings, Pakistan faced an early blow as power pacer Kagiso Rabada struck and Saim Ayub got out after scoring 28 runs leaving Pakistan just one-run short of the 50-run mark. 

Babar Azam joined Shan Masood and together they built-up a short partnership of 21 runs as the skipper fell to Marco Jansen, giving South Africa a chance to repeat their first inning fierceness that led Pakistan to bundle out on 211 runs. 

The pacer struck again in his very next over and dismissed Kamran Ghulam on just four runs. 

When Pakistan was trailing by two runs, the match officials decided to delay the play due to bad light. The bails were pushed off the stumps and the players returned to the pavilion until further notice. 

Earlier in the first innings, Markram had been under pressure after a series of low scores for South Africa but showed his value to the team with chanceless knock that left South Africa 31 runs in arrears with five wickets in hand at Centurion.

Markram’s steady flow of runs was a danger to Pakistan and resuming after lunch, the batter was dismissed leaving South Africa at 213/8.

With an end to Markram’s innings, Pakistan’s players found themselves back in the game. Still, a fiery cameo from Bosch sidetracked the team.

Bosch, along with, Dane Paterson kept scoring runs whenever the Pakistani bowlers gave them a chance. However, their partnership could not be further extended after Peterson got out on 12 runs bringing an end to South Africa’s first innings. 

Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah grabbed three wickets each while Aamer Jamal dismissed two South African batters. 

Pacer Mohammad Abbas grabbed one scalp whereas the last batter was dismissed by Saim Ayub. 

South Africa were 82-3 overnight with Markram and Temba Bavuma putting on a further 54 runs before the skipper was dismissed, offering a thick outside edge to a delivery from Aamer Jamal and was caught behind for 31.

Bedingham was characteristically attacking in his short spell at the crease, scoring 30 runs off 33 balls before extra bounce from Naseem Shah saw him edge to Kamran Ghulam in the slips.

South Africa need to win one of the two-match series against Pakistan to reach the WTC final at Lord’s in June, adding extra pressure to the contest.

They have won their last seven home tests against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s playing XI

Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas.

South Africa’s playing XI

Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch.

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This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.