Pakistan beat South Africa by 7 wickets in first test at Karachi

Pakistan beat South Africa by 7 wickets in first test at Karachi. After a long time, one of SENA countries toured Pakistan. So in a way this series is very important for Pakistan and its board. This was a good test match where South Africa also had their moments, but they failed to latch on to the important moments in the match. 

Brief Scores

1st innings South Africa 220-10(69.2 overs). D Elgar 58(106), G Linde 35(64), Y Shah 3/54, N Ali 2/38.

Pakistan 378-10(119.2 overs). F Alam 109(245), F Ashraf 64(84), K Rabada 3/70, K Maharaj 3/90.

2nd innings South Africa 245-10(100.3 overs). A Markram 74(224), R van der Dussen 64(151), N Ali 5/35, Y Shah 4/79.

Pakistan 90-3 (22.5 overs). A Ali 31*(47), B Azam 30(39), A Nortje 2/24, K Maharaj 1/12.

Result- Pakistan beat South Africa by 7 wickets.

Man of the Match- Fawad Alam

This was a very important win for the hosts, as also expressed by their captain Babar Azam. They had lost all their matches in New Zealand. Coming to the National Stadium, Karachi, they had also lost the toss. South African captain Quinton de Kock rightly chose to bat first, on a wicket which was going to deteriorate with time.

But South Africa were not able to take full advantage of the toss. They batted for just 69 odd overs. Almost all Pakistan bowlers chipped in with a wicket or two. Debutant Nauman Ali also took 2 wickets. For the visitors, Dean Elgar top scored with a well made half-century.

On Day 1, it was advantage to South Africa. Though they were dismissed for just 220 runs, but their bowlers inflicted early blows and the hosts were reeling at 27-4 at one point. Even their nightwatchman Shaheen Afridi was dismissed cheaply.

Fawad Alam scores another century, his second after his comeback.

But on the second day, Pakistan showed great resolve and grit. They batted for a long time and lost just 4 wickets in the entire day. Fawad Alam scored a second century after his comeback. He was ably assisted by half-centuries from Azhar Ali and Faheem Ashraf. Also, the Pakistani tailenders wagged their tail. They took the score from 295-8 to 378.

Debutant Nauman Ali picked up a 5-wicket haul.

The visitors batted a lot better in the second innings. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen made fluent half-centuries. At one point they were 175-1 and were looking to set a huge target for the hosts. But then happened a major collapse and all of a sudden they were all out for just for 245. Pakistan spinners Nauman Ali and Yasir Shah took 9 wickets between them.

Thus, the hosts were set a target of just 90 runs to win this match. They won the match without breaking much sweat. Although they did lose 3 wickets, but in the end the experienced Azhar Ali guided them home safely.

Read Also : Afghanistan defeat Ireland by 36 runs, clean sweep by 3-0