Twitter Reactions: Olivier and Bavuma put South Africa ahead in series opener

Masood and Imam scored half-centuries for Pakistan.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

At the close of play on Day 1 of the opening Test between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion, the match was evenly poised. However, the hosts ensured that they took the upper hand after the second day. With three days left in the encounter, the Proteas require 149 to win the series opener. Sarfraz Ahmed and Co aren’t out of the game by any means though.

Bavuma takes charge with the bat

Temba Bavuma and night-watchman Dale Steyn opened the batting with the overnight score at 127 for five. The duo added 19 more runs, after which Mohammad Amir accounted for Bavuma’s wicket. Bavuma scored 53 runs from 87 balls and fell prey to Shaheen Shah Afridi. Speedster Hasan Ali trapped Keshav Maharaj in front to pick up the eighth South African wicket.

At the other end, Quinton de Kock played a fluent knock of 45 runs from 53 deliveries with five boundaries. He was the last Proteas’ wicket to fall. Even as Amir and Afridi picked up four wickets each, leg-break bowler Yasir Shah was used for only four overs in which he conceded 24 runs. Most importantly, the home team took an essential lead of 39 runs after the first innings.

Imam and Masood shepherd Pakistan

Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman started steadily with a stand of 44 runs from 78 balls. After Duanne Olivier nipped out the left-handed Fakhar, Shan Masood joined Imam and the duo put together 57 for the second wicket. Oliver accounted for the wicket of Imam. Who scored 57 runs from 96 balls. Thereafter, Pakistan lost the plot and were reduced to 159/8 in the 50th over.

After picking up a six-wicket haul in the first innings, Olivier notched a fifer in the second innings. Masood, who replaced Haris Sohail in the eleven, tried his best with a knock of 65 from 120 balls, but Dale Steyn removed him and in the next over, Olivier picked up Afridi to bring the curtains down on Pakistan’s second innings. Kagiso Rabada and Sten picked up three and two wickets respectively.

Here is how Twitter reacted

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