South Africa’s return to Pakistan to play Test cricket for the first time in 14 years was a mixed one after they disappointed with the bat, but then impressed with the ball to end Day One with honours even at the National Stadium here on Tuesday. South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took two wickets to send Pakistan on the back foot.
After winning the toss and batting, South Africa let themselves down by being dismissed for just 220, but their bowlers hit back impressively by rocking the top order of the home side and leaving them in tatters at stumps on 33 for four wickets.
Rabada, as he almost always does, claimed wickets 198 and 199 to finish with the impressive figures of 6-3-8-2 while there was also a wicket each for Keshav Maharaj (1/0) and Anrich Nortje (1/20). Pakistan still trail by 187 runs.
Earlier, it was Dean Elgar who led the way for the disappointing tourists with his 16th career half-century. The opener top-scored with 58 (106 balls, 9 fours) as the South Africans threw away a good start to be dismissed in 69.2 overs.
Mark Boucher’s side were returning to Pakistan for the first time since 2007 when he was a player and South Africa won the series so impressively.
This time, though, they looked in trouble after poor performance with the bat, and there were two needless run-outs besides several batsmen being out needlessly.