In a gripping opening day of the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan battled to a solid 259 for 5 against a resilient South African side. Captain Shan Masood led from the front with a hard-fought 87, while Abdullah Shafique’s lucky 57 formed the backbone of a crucial 111-run partnership. However, the story of the day was South Africa’s fielding woes, with four dropped catches that could have tilted the scales dramatically.
A Cautious Start:
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on a sluggish Rawalpindi surface that offered little to the bowlers early on. The hosts adopted a patient strategy, prioritizing survival over aggression, which kept their run rate under three per over throughout the day. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen probed with the new ball, creating early edges, but fortune favored the batters.
The Proteas’ frustrations began immediately. Rabada induced an edge from Shafique on the very first ball, but Tristan Stubbs grassed a straightforward chance at third slip. Imam-ul-Haq also edged twice off Rabada, only for the balls to fall short of the cordon. Jansen nearly had Shafique too, beating his inside edge and clipping the stumps without dislodging the bails—a bizarre moment that summed up South Africa’s luckless morning.
Spin was introduced early, with Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer sharing duties. Maharaj dropped a return catch off Shafique’s leading edge, and another edge didn’t carry. Harmer finally broke through, bowling Imam with a delivery that turned past the outside edge. By lunch, Pakistan had crawled to 95 for 1, with Masood and Shafique laying a foundation despite the constant threats.
Afternoon Session:
Post-lunch, the duo of Shafique and Masood blossomed. Masood, growing in confidence, charged down the track to smash Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy for towering sixes, injecting some momentum. Shafique, riding his luck after being dropped again on 15 and 41, reached a gritty fifty off 120 balls.
Their 111-run stand was the highlight, frustrating a South African attack that relied heavily on spin. Maharaj (2-63) and Harmer (2-75) toiled hard, but fielding lapses hurt them. Shafique edged Maharaj to slip, where Aiden Markram fumbled after a deflection off keeper Kyle Verreynne’s gloves. Harmer eventually dismissed Shafique, who feathered one down the leg side.
Babar Azam arrived with flair, smashing Harmer through the covers, but his stay was brief. Masood survived a drop on 71 at short fine leg off Muthusamy, but Babar fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Tony de Zorzi at silly mid-off off Maharaj. At tea, Pakistan stood at 177 for 3, firmly in control despite the wickets.
Evening Resilience: Reverse Swing and Unbeaten Shakeel
The final session saw Pakistan add 82 runs for two wickets in 31 overs. Saud Shakeel (42*) played a composed knock, navigating reverse swing from Jansen and Rabada with the older ball. Masood, eyeing a century, fell short at 87 after top-edging a sweep off Maharaj to Jansen at deep square leg.
Mohammad Rizwan looked set but edged Jansen short of slip before Rabada struck with the second new ball in the 85th over, trapping him lbw with a sharp inswinger. Shakeel and Salman Agha steadied the ship to stumps, ensuring Pakistan ended the day in a commanding position.
South Africa’s bowlers created numerous chances—edges fell short on at least seven occasions—but their inability to capitalize left them rueing what could have been. With the pitch expected to deteriorate, offering more low bounce and spin, Day 2 promises intrigue.
- Shan Masood (87 off 176 balls): Top-scored with a captain’s knock, blending defense with timely aggression. His three sixes were pivotal in accelerating the innings.
- Abdullah Shafique (57): Benefited from three lives but converted them into a vital half-century, his sixth in Tests.
- Saud Shakeel (42):* Unbeaten and assured, providing stability in the lower middle order.
- Keshav Maharaj (2-63): South Africa’s standout bowler, claiming key wickets of Babar and Masood.
- Simon Harmer (2-75): Effective in breaking partnerships but expensive at times.
ICC World Test Championship Standings
As this series impacts the WTC race, here’s the current table:
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 |
| PAK | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| SL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| IND | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 61.90 |
| ENG | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 43.33 |
| BAN | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
| WI | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| SA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| NZ | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Pakistan’s strong start could boost their position further if they capitalize on Day 2. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the Test unfolds in Rawalpindi.
