Proteas bowlers do the job ... now for the batters at Centurion

Zaahier Adams|Published 2 months ago

South Africa's Dane Paterson celebrates his ‘Michelle’ after dismissing Pakistan's Salman Aghato to claim his fifth wicket on day 1 of first Test at SuperSport Park on Thursday. AFP

South Africa v Pakistan: First Test, Day 1, Stumps

Pakistan: 211 all out

Ghulam 54, Paterson 5/61, Bosch 4/63

South Africa: 82/3

Markram 47*, Bavuma 4*, Shahzad 2/28

South Africa trails by 129 runs

When history is not simply beckoning but virtually pulling you through the door, the effect can be dumbfounding. The Proteas displayed symptoms of a team who know what lies on the other side but don’t quite know how to get there just yet.

The bowlers played their part on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at Centurion. But after a few jitters, it is now the turn of the remaining batters to put the Proteas in a position where they can push for that victory that will seal their trip to Lord’s for the World Test Championship final next year.

Confronted by a typical opening day Centurion pitch that zipped and seamed around under heavy cloud cover, it was no surprise that Proteas captain Temba Bavuma asked the Pakistani batters to have first strike.

Corbin Bosch took his first Test wicket with his first ball on debut. | AFP

In fact, Bavuma’s decision was straightforward after the team announced on Christmas Eve already had included debutant Corbin Bosch in an all-seam attack. If this seemed a gamble to some, almost cavalier considering both left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder had passed their respective fitness tests in the build-up, Bosch took precious little time to prove it was the correct decision.

Pakistan openers Shan Masood (17) and Saim Ayub (14) had survived a testing opening hour from particularly Kagiso Rababa.

But such is Test coach Shukri Conrad’s Midas touch at the moment that it took Bosch just one ball to quantify his selection. The local Titan lad removed Pakistan captain Masood with his very first ball in Test cricket to send both his mum and step-dad, who were sitting in the stands, into a state of delirium.

There were three more opportunities for the parents to cheer with Bosch finishing with the magical debut figures of 4/63 as he helped dismiss Pakistan for just 211. But for all Bosch’s heroics on his first day in Test whites, it was a veteran that stole the show for the Proteas.

"Totally not a flank...yet" 🤣🎙️

Aphelele Fassi joins us in the commentary box 😏👇

📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/ijzDGrDfhQ
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 26, 2024

Dane Paterson is enjoying the summer of his life at the moment with the 35-year-old claiming his second five-wicket haul in successive Tests. Paterson followed up his maiden Test fifer earlier this month in Gqeberha with 5/61 to really put the skids under the Pakistanis.

Paterson’s control was immaculate as he hit just the right line and length on a surface that was almost tailormade for his accurate seamers.

After playing his part in reducing Pakistan to 4/56, it was Paterson that returned to break a threatening 81-run partnership between Kamran Ghulam (54) and Mohammad Rizwan (27).

It was the opening the Proteas craved as it exposed Pakistan’s brittle middle-to-lower order with Paterson and Bosch running through it.

Stumps on Day One 🇿🇦🇵🇰

An eventful day in Centurion ends with the @ProteasMenCSA trailing by 129 runs ➡️#SAvPAK | #SummerOfCricket pic.twitter.com/JCnKBg5Htm
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 26, 2024

South Africa’s reply got off to a nervous start with Khurram Shahzad (2/28) removing both Tony de Zorzi (2) and Ryan Rickleton (8) with two beautiful deliveries to leave the home side at a nervy 24/2. De Zorzi, in particular, was on the receiving end of a delightful in-ducker that knocked over his middle stump.

Tristan Stubbs started in confident fashion with a flick through mid-wicket off his first delivery and began a mini repair job with Aiden Markram before Mohammad Abbas got one to skid into Stubbs’ pads.

Markram has looked fine touch though during his undefeated 47, striking the ball both straight and square with authority.

The Proteas’ most experienced batting pair are now at the crease and it is Markram along with captain Temba Bavuma that need to place their team in a position of authority on Friday. | Independent Media Sport