The Proteas trail Pakistan by 129 runs after Day 1 of the 1st Test at SuperSport Park.
The hosts opted to bowl first on an overcast Day 1 at SuperSport Park.
The hard surface had a little grass on it, and the key strategy for the South African seam attack was to bowl a consistent line and length around the fourth stump region.
Pakistan’s approach in the first hour was cautious, with the Proteas bowlers still searching for the rhythm and consistency they needed to take a wicket.
Going into the drinks break, Pakistan would have felt satisfied having reached 36-0 in 14 overs.
After the break, they seemed unsure whether to play or leave deliveries. They lost four wickets for 20 runs.
The Proteas found their breakthrough through Corbin Bosch, who took a wicket on his first-ever delivery in Test cricket. The debutant found a thick edge from Shan Masood (17) to Jansen in the slips.
In the next over, Dane Peterson opened his account, with a beautiful full delivery which found the faint edge of Saim Ayub (14) to the keeper Kyle Verreynne.
His following over Paterson made it 41-3 with the prized wicket of Babar Azam, who pushed at a shortish wide delivery to Aiden Markram in the slips.
In Bosch’s third over, he took three deliverers to take his second Test wicket. Said Shakeel attempted to pull a ball going down leg and gloved it to Verreynne.
Pakistan were now in trouble at 56-4 after 18.3 overs.
The visitors decided to take an aggressive approach in the last half-hour before lunch. They managed to hit a few risky boundaries to take themselves into the break on 88-4.
Although Pakistan fought hard to get some runs on the board, the pair continued their wicket-taking form. This included a five-for by Paterson and a Bosch four-for.
Pakistan were 9 down by tea with 209 on the board, largely thanks to a half-century from Kamran Ghulam before Paterson dismissed him.
Marco Jansen wrapped up the visitors for 211.
South Africa had a poor start to their innings. They lost Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, posting just 66 runs.
They ended the day on 82-3 with Markram on 47* and Bavuma on 4*.
Scorecard
