Reigning ICC World Test champions, South Africa, have a fight on their hands in the second and final cricket test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the hosts scored 259 for the loss of five wickets on day one.
Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 42 at stumps.
Day one was slow, and one South Africa would want to forget in terms of catching. There were a number of cases of butter fingers.
After an early let-off, Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq put on 35 for the first wicket before Simon Harmer got the breakthrough. He removed Imam-ul-Haq for 17 in the 13th over.
Masood and Abdulah Shafique then added 60 runs to take Pakistan to 95 for one at lunch. Their partnership continued to flourish in the second session.
However, their 111-run partnership was broken with Shafique caught behind for 57 by Kyle Verreynne off the bowling of Harmer.
Keshav Maharaj picked up his first wicket, removing the dangerous Babar Azam for 16 to leave on 177 for three at tea.
The Proteas managed to take two more wickets in the afternoon session to ensure Pakistan don’t dominate.
Maharaj removed Masood for 87, while Kagiso trapped Mohammad Rizwan leg before for 19…
The hosts reached 259 for five at the close — a good position to be in — but despite the poor fielding, the batsmen weren’t allowed to dominate.
