Pakistan's bowlers hit back after the tourists were bowled out for 211 on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Thursday. Khurram Shahzad struck twice and Mohammad Abbas claimed a late wicket as South Africa reached 82 for three at the close. Dane Paterson and debutant Corbin Bosch did most of the damage for South Africa after Pakistan were sent in to bat on a well-grassed pitch.
Paterson, enjoying a late-career surge at the age of 35, took five for 61 - his second five-wicket haul in successive Tests - while Bosch took four for 63. Kamran Ghulam made a counter-attacking 54 off 71 balls for Pakistan. Bosch claimed a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket when Pakistan captain Shan Masood edged a drive to Marco Jansen at fourth slip after Masood and Saim Ayub put on 36 for the first wicket.
The openers batted patiently in the first hour but the tempo of the innings changed after Masood's dismissal. Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed said in a pre-match television interview that he didn't expect a significant difference in approach from his players after they beat South Africa 3-0 in a one-day series which ended on Sunday. Javed reasoned that it was the sort of pitch on which positive stroke play was required to score runs in seam-friendly conditions.
It seemed the majority of Pakistan's batsmen were still in aggressive one-day mode. Both Paterson and Bosch benefitted from batsmen playing poor strokes. Saud Shakeel played an extraordinary inning.
