RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has lost both openers on Saturday in their second innings after Hasan Ali’s five-wicket haul gave them a lead over South Africa in the second Test in Rawalpindi cricket stadium.
Pakistan secured 272 in their first innings. However, South Africa reduced Pakistan to 42-2 at tea on day three to leave the Test in the balance as the Rawalpindi stadium pitch got tough for batting.
Five-wicket haul for @RealHa55an! ????????????????????
Watch #PAKvSA Live: https://t.co/JDojbzmfIr#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/k8OIm6qSYn
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 6, 2021
Hasan’s 5-54 — his second five-wicket haul in Tests — restricted South Africa’s first innings to 201, giving the home team a lead of 71. Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 22 and skipper Babar Azam five not out as Pakistan’s overall lead is 113 runs with eight-second wickets intact.
Pakistan lost newcomer Imran Butt — managing just 36 in four innings of his first series — in the fifth over, leg-before to pacer Kagiso Rabada for a duck. Imran’s partner, Abid Ali fell caught behind off spinner Keshav Maharaj for 13, ending up with 33 in the series to highlight Pakistan’s top-order woes.
Azhar, on 11, survived a confident leg-before appeal off Maharaj only to see the referral showed it was the umpire’s call. It was Hasan who wrapped up South African innings after they added 95 runs in the morning. Temba Bavuma fought a lone battle with 44 not out.
Resuming at 106-4 South Africa had hoped their skipper Quinton de Kock would build on his breezy overnight score of 24, but the left-hander played on to Shaheen in the third over of the day. De Kock scored 29.
Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder frustrated Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack during a 50-run sixth-wicket stand before disaster struck. Mulder nudged a push to deep fine-leg but while returning for a second run failed to beat a Shaheen throw and was run out. George Linde hit three boundaries and a six in his quickfire 21 but missed the line of a Hasan delivery and was bowled.
South Africa all out for 201. Pakistan lead by 71 runs.
Watch #PAKvSA Live: https://t.co/JDojbzmfIr#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/cGYLjbJQau
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 6, 2021
