Pak vs SA: Babar Azam, Fawad Alam rescue Pakistan after early shocks
Pakistan´s captain Babar Azam (R) plays an attempt as South Africa ´s wicketkeeper captain Quinton de Kock watches as teammate Dean Elgar reacts during the primary day of the second Test match of a two-match series between Pakistan and South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on February 4, 2021. -AFP
At tea, skipper Babar Azam was unbeaten on 77 with Fawad Alam on 42 not out.
Proteas are playing a match game at the Pindi Cricket Stadium after 24 years.
No changes are made to Pakistan's 17-player squad from the primary Test in Karachi.
RAWALPINDI: Skipper Babar Azam and Fawad Alam rescued Pakistan from early shocks and took the score to 145-3 at tea on the opening day of the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Play couldn't be resumed after tea thanks to rain and a wet outfield, with skipper Babar Azam 77 not out, and Fawad Alam undefeated with 42.
Earlier, Spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-51) and pacer Anrich Nortje (1-30) had left Pakistan struggling on 63-3 at lunch but Azam and Alam added 123 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand to steady the innings.
Azam, who managed just seven and 30 within the first Test, returned to his stylish best, having thus far punched 12 boundaries in his 16th Test half-century.
Alam, who scored a fighting hundred within the first Test, was steady with five hits to the fence.
Earlier, Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, reached 21 without loss before discard three wickets for one run within the space of 23 balls.
Maharaj, brought into the attack in only the ninth over, had opener Imran Butt caught behind for 15 then trapped senior batsman Azhar Ali leg-before for nought in his next over.
Nortje then produced a pointy rising delivery to Abid Ali, (six) whose fended push was caught smartly at short-leg by Aiden Markram.
Pakistan lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the primary Test in Karachi by seven wickets.
0 Comments