Karachi: All-round Pakistan registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the first test and took 1-0 lead in the two Test series at the National Stadium, here on Friday.
South Africa managed to add just 58 runs in the morning session of Day 4 for the loss of six wickets.
They were bowled out for 245, with Nauman Ali (5/35) and Yasir Shah (4/79) doing most of the damage.
Pakistan, needing 88 for victory, lost the wickets of Abid Ali, Imran Butt and Babar Azam before achieving the target in 22.5 overs,
With this win, Pakistan swapped positions with South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship table, moving to No 5.
South Africa resumed on 187-4 and Keshav Maharaj, the nightwatchman, was cleaned up by Hasan Ali on the very first ball of the day. After Maharaj’s wicket, Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma had the responsibility to set a daunting target for the home side.
Unfortunately for the visitors, captain de Kock (2) also failed for the second consecutive time on the tour. The southpaw was undone by leg-spinner Yasir Shah (4 for 79), who had removed Dean Elgar, Rassie, Van Der Dussen and Faf du Plessis on Thursday.
Thereafter, it was down to the last established pair of batsmen for South Africa - George Linde and Bavuma.
The duo resisted for nearly 14 overs, during the course of which they managed to take the lead past the 50-run mark. However, Pakistan just needed a breakthrough to expose South Africa and they did so. An inside-edge from Linde, after a 29-ball 11, was sharply taken by Imran Butt at leg slip, and South Africa didn’t last long thereafter.
Four wickets fell for just 11 runs, with the final blow being struck when Bavuma was trapped in front by Nauman Ali. It was a memorable occasion for Nauman, who ended with a five-wicket haul and became the oldest player since 1949 to take a five-for on Test debut.
During Pakistan’s run chase, Anrich Nortje had both Imran Butt and Abid Ali dismissed in the eighth over. Despite that, Pakistan seemed in a hurry to finish the chase.
Azhar Ali and Babar Azam put on 63 for the third wicket, off just 85 deliveries, and while Azam fell right at the end, trapped in front by Maharaj, the Fawad Alam, the first-innings hero, came on to fittingly score the winning runs. (UNI)
