South Africa has taken a strong position in the first Test against Pakistan at Centurion, finishing their first innings with a total of 301 runs and gaining a 90-run lead. The South African batting effort was led by Aiden Markram, who scored an impressive 89 runs, and debutant Robin Bosch, who made a remarkable 81 in his first outing. Their contributions laid a solid foundation for the team, while the lower order chipped in with a vital 88 runs to boost the total.
Pakistan’s bowlers worked hard, with Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad each claiming three wickets to prevent South Africa from running away with the game.
Earlier, Pakistan struggled on the opening day, getting bowled out for just 211 runs in their first innings. Kamran Ghulam stood out with a fighting knock of 54, marking his maiden Test half-century. He formed an important 81-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed 27 runs, but the rest of the batting order couldn’t offer much resistance.
South Africa’s bowling attack was led by Dane Paterson, who was in excellent form and took five wickets. Debutant Corbin Bosch also made a significant impact, securing four wickets and adding pressure on Pakistan’s batting lineup.
With South Africa holding a healthy lead, Pakistan will need a strong effort in their second innings to stay in the contest.
