Pakistan trail by 2 runs after Day 2 of the 1st Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park.
It was frustrating for the South African middle-order batters on Day 2 of the 1st Test.
Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram’s half-century partnership took South Africa from 82-3 to 136-4, which tightened the hosts’ grip on the match.
But the partnership was broken when Bavuma flashed at a delivery and got a thick outside edge to be dismissed for 31 by Aamer Jamal.
Bedingham tried to stick around with Markram till lunch and looked good for his 30, but he punched at a leave-able delivery from Naseem Shah, resulting in an edge to first slip just before the break.
Aiden Markram was running out of partners, when Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen both suffered the same fate, driving at leave-able deliveries outside off and finding the edge. SA were reduced to 191-7, as the match looked like it was swaying back into Pakistan’s favour.
Markram and Corbin Bosch took South Africa into the lead. The former contributed with a well-played 89 before he gloved an angled-in short delivery to the keeper looking for a pull shot. He walked off in frustration with SA on 213-8.
Bosch and Rabada batted with intent. The pair brought up South Africa’s 250 and continued to extend the lead.
Rabada played a rash big shot but found mid-on, with Bosch on 46 not out and South Africa in the lead by 43. SA were reduced to 254-9.
Luckily the wicket fell on the last ball of the 63rd over, so Bosch had the chance to score a half-century on debut. He did so with a fabulous drive through the covers for four.
Paterson and Bosch continued to increase the lead by playing some attacking shots.
The final wicket fell after South Africa passed the 300-run mark.
Bosch finished with 81 not out off 93 balls (15 fours).
South Africa’s innings ended with a lead of 90 as Tea was called.
Similarly to the 1st innings, Pakistan got off to a good start but was hit by quick dismissals.
The visitors were 49 without loss when Rabada struck with a beautiful delivery to beat Saim Ayub’s defence on 28 in the 11th over.
They recovered slightly after the wicket, but just as they hit the 70-run mark they lost another two, one in the 17th and one in the 19th. Marco Jansen got both wickets, Shan Masood (28) and Kamran Ghulam (4).
They finished on 88/3 when the umpires ended the day’s play 30 minutes early due to bad light.
Pakistan trail by 2 runs.
Scorecard
