Twitter Reactions: Fawad Alam century, Nauman Ali fifer lift Pakistan to 1-0

After many bumps and many twists, it finally came down to the victory of the team that looked in contention for it the majority of the first Test. It was a game of errors for both the teams, and that Pakistan managed to win was probably because they either made fewer errors, or the ones they did had a lesser bearing on the game.

Having tumbled the visitors for 220, it seemed that a strong foundation for Pakistan was laid on the first day itself, although only for them to lose their top-order for a nothing score to loosen the grip on the day they dominated with admirable gusto. While a comeback courtesy of Kagiso Rabada and NAnrich Nortje infused hope and promise, Pakistan, through the spectacular resilience of Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf, ad Abid Ali tilted the scale in their favor on the next day.

That was never going to be the end of the vacillating fortunes for either side, as the entirety of day three belonged to the steely grit of Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen, who played knocks that had patience stamped all over it. They were guilty of repeating the mistake that Pakistan made on an opening day: squandering away the hard-earned advantage.

Had South Africa not allowed Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali to dictate terms towards the end of a day they tackled nearly perfectly, they would have far better than being effectively 29/4 on the start of day four. It was yet not over for the Proteas, who had eyes fixated on Temba Bavuma and skipper Quinton de Kock, although Hasan Ali provided the home team a start they would have made plans for the entire night.

Troubled start for South Africa

South Africa’s troubles increased in an instant as Ali struck on the first delivery of the day to remove nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj. The Karachi track had shown glimpses of uneven bounce as early as the opening day of the Test, and it was, therefore, no surprise that the delivery kept much lower than Maharaj’s anticipation before rattling his stumps.

The visitors’ lead was only 34 when Yasir Shah struck to dismiss his opponent’s last pillar of hope: Quinton de Kock. Shah tossed it up a tad bit and it was sufficient for him to induce an inside edge on to de Kock’s pad before Abid Ali took a sharp chance at forward short leg. Temba Bavuma played a knock that gave some semblance of resistance, as alongside George Linde, he added a crucial 42 runs to take the lead close to the triple-figure mark.

Although the fight did not last too long and Nauman Ali sent back Linde for 11 after an inside edge off his bat flew to Imran Butt close to leg slip. One breakthrough brought another for Nauman, who cleaned up Kagiso Rabada before getting Anrich Nortje caught at point to reduce South Africa nine down. He made it a fifer on debut when he brought Bavuma’s stay to an end, trapping him lbw, to set a target of 88 for his team to win only their fifth Test against South Africa.

Azam-Ali guide to win

A game that has been glaringly swinging back and forth had lesser drama during Pakistan’s chase, however, Abid Ali and Imran Butt managed to take their team into Lunch at 22/0, with 66 left to be chased upon return. South Africa’s diminishing hopes were reignited by Anrich Nortje straight after the proceedings resumed as Abid Ali played on a length ball onto his stumps and Imran Butt fell only 5 balls later, as he edged one behind the wickets.

Although, a breezy 63-run partnership between skipper Babar Azam and Azhar Ali took Pakistan closer. Even though Keshav Maharaj picked a consolation wicket for himself as he trapped Azam lbw for the second time in the game, the contest came to a fitting end as the Player of the Match Fawad Alam cut Maharaj in front of the square to hit the winning runs.

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