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The Proteas will look to make early inroads tomorrow and set the tone for Day 2.
Pakistan has the ascendency after day one of the first Test match against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Four of the hosts batsmen scored half-centuries to help lift their total to 315 for the loss of five wickets at stumps.
The first session of day one at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, belonged to Pakistan. The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first.
Kagiso Rabada made an early breakthrough with the wicket of opener Abdullah Shafique for two in the first over of the match, but that was all the success that the Proteas had in that passage of play.
It was the other opener, Imam-ul-Haq, and captain Shan Masood who dictated proceedings, amassing more than 100 runs. Despite playing his last Test for Pakistan two years ago, ul-Haq notched up his 10th half-century.
The pair took their team to lunch, very much in charge on 107 for the loss of just one wicket. The wicket drought continued on the other side of the break as Masood also recorded a half-century, his 12th in Test cricket.
It was off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen that eventually broke their massive 161-run second wicket stand, trapping the skipper leg before for 76.
It was only in the last over before tea, when left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy also fought back for the visitors. He took two wickets in consecutive deliveries, that of Imam-ul-Haq for 93 and then Saud Shakeel for a duck as the Pakistanis wobbled to tea on 199 for the loss of four wickets.
Simon Harmer also found himself in the wickets in early in the final session, trapping Barba Azam leg before for 23.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha steadied their innings and once again put them in the driving seat with an unbeaten 114-run sixth-wicket partnership. Both batsmen also recorded half-centuries, Rizwan his 12th in Test cricket and Agha’s his 10th.
Pakistan ended the day in full control on 315 for the loss of five wickets.
Stumps on Day 1! 🏏
Pakistan close the day on 313/5 after 90 overs.#TheProteas Men will look to make early inroads tomorrow and set the tone for Day 2. 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/nTlvIWXItE
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 12, 2025
