Pakistan vs South Africa: Kagiso Rabada took two wickets as South Africa stopped Pakistan at 33/4 as they were all out for 220 on Day 1 of the first Test.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took two wickets for just eight as he led the South African clash against Pakistan in their first Test match in Karachi on Tuesday. Pakistan were in trouble for four out of 33 to play, bowling out for 220 visitors – their second lowest total in the country. Fourteen wickets fell on the forgotten National Stadium pitch, expecting to take a spin from day one. South Africa were equaled 108–2 soon after lunch, but lost their last eight wickets for just 112 runs – managing their lowest total overhaul in Pakistan, 214 in 1997 at Faisalabad.
Spinners Yasir Shah (3-54), debutant Nauman Ali (2-38) and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-49) suffered losses.
But then Rabada bowled Abid Ali (four) in his third over to pay interest to the hosts and then caught Imran Butt (nine) at leg slip.
He now has 199 wickets from 44 Tests.
Babar Azam, who led Pakistan for the first time in Tests, dismissed spinner Keshav Maharaj for seven before Anirik Nortje was dismissed for no runs off the ball of night watchman Shaheen.
At the close, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam were unbeaten, scoring five runs each – Pakistan scoring 187 runs and taking six wickets.
Earlier, opener Dean Elgar scored the highest for South Africa with 58, while George Linde (35) and Rabada (21 not out) made other notable contributions.
“We may not have said that after our batting, but then we struggled with wickets,” he said.
“Knowing that this pitch is going to be tough, and knowing that we have good spinners, I believe we can move forward even further.”
Elgar hit his 16th Test half-century with ninth fours – before he dismissed Nauman at the hands of Azam at slip.
The two-match series marks the first tour to Pakistan by South Africa in 14 years, a positive step towards the revival of international cricket in the host country.
A lethal attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 halted international tours in Pakistan before their gradual resumption in recent years.
