South Africa stumble in chase of modest target against Pakistan

Agencies Published December 29, 2024

CENTURION: South African pacer Marco Jansen celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel during the first Test at the SuperSport Park on Saturday.—AFP

CENTURION: Pakistan opening bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad struck three blows late on the third afternoon as a nervy South Africa slumped to 27-3 when bad light brought play to an early close on Saturday, still 121 runs shy of victory in the first Test at SuperSport Park and a place in next June’s World Test Championship.

The home side are chasing a modest target of 148 after bowling out Pakistan for 237 and if they win will be assured a place in the WTC final at Lords.

But Pakistan kept alive their own hopes of victory as they took three wickets in the opening nine overs of South Africas second innings with Abbas taking two wickets for three runs in four immaculate overs of swing bowling, dismissing Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, while Khurram trapped Ryan Rickelton.

Aiden Markram, South Africa’s top scorer in the first innings, was unbeaten on 22 going into what could be a nervy fourth day for the hosts.

All three wickets were leg before wicket decisions — and all three were reviewed.

De Zorzi batted outside his crease in an attempt to counter the swing which undid him in the first innings — but Abbas beat his inside edge and he was given out.

He reviewed umpire Alex Wharf’s decision but replays showed the impact was “umpire’s call”, with the ball going on to hit the stumps, and he had to go for two runs.

Rickelton failed to score before he was trapped by Khurram and Stubbs made one before falling to Abbas - with Pakistan successfully reviewing on both occasions after the batsmen were initially given not out.

It was a dramatic end to a day on which the start was delayed by three hours because of rain.

South Africa had a 90-run lead over the tourists after the opening innings and although the contest ebbed and flowed through the day, will have felt they had worked their way into a winning position before they came out to bat.

Marco Jansen finished with 6-52 to put the brakes on Pakistan’s hopes of a bigger second innings tally after Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam made a bright start to the day’s play, which was delayed until after lunch.

Saud top scored with 84, before being undone by a full toss from Jansen, but his dismissal was unlucky in contrast to a raft of injudicious shots that saw his team-mates get out.

Babar moved briskly from 16 not out overnight to 50 — his first in his last 20 Test innings — but was then tempted into swinging at a short and wide delivery in Jansen’s first over and caught by Corbin Bosch on the boundary.

Mohammad Rizwan then gave away his wicket cheaply, gloving a wayward leg-side delivery from Jansen to the wicket-keeper, while Salman Ali Agha drove at only the third ball he faced and edged behind.

Aamer Jamal was dismissed for 18 as he could not resist attempting to pull a short delivery from Dane Paterson and was caught by Rickelton.

Saud was ninth man out when he missed a full toss from Jansen after hitting 10 fours and a six in a 113-ball innings.

Pakistan were finally bowled out in the last session when debutant Bosch claimed his fifth wicket of the match.

Successive Test wins over the West Indies, Bangladesh (2) and Sri Lanka (2) have left South Africa needing to win one of their two Tests against Pakistan for a first-ever appearance in a WTC final.

The second Test against Pakistan will be at Newlands in Cape Town, starting next Friday.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN (1st innings) 211

SOUTH AFRICA (1st innings) 301

PAKISTAN (2nd innings; overnight 88-3):

Saim Ayub b Rabada 27

Shan Masood c Stubbs b Jansen 28

Babar Azam c Bosch b Jansen 50

Kamran Ghulam c Rickelton b Jansen 4

Saud Shakeel lbw Jansen 84

Mohammad Rizwan c Verreynne b Jansen 3

Salman Ali Agha c Verreynne b Jansen 1