Water was playing spoilsport on what was shaping up to be an exciting first day in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan recovered from an early slip to post 145/3.
Fawad Alam and Babar Azam, in their respective styles, built an unstoppable 123-run stand that helped Pakistan recover from a terrifying slip that reduced them to 22/3. They had helped bring the side to tea, when water trickled in and washed out a promising final session.
Pakistan chose to bat in the morning, but found themselves in all sorts of trouble within an hour. Kagiso Rabada, and especially Keshav Maharaj, who was introduced to the attack as early as the eighth over, looked threatening.
Maharaj should have had a wicket in his first inning, when he stimulated a margin from Imran Butt which was dropped by Temba Bavuma at the first slip. However, the discount was not costly. In his third, Maharaj had trapped Butt with a flying delivery – and this time, he was outscored by Quinton de Kock.
Another wicket followed in Maharaj’s next round, when he had caught Azhar Ali in front of him with a full delivery for nine. When Anrich Nortje went into the act, dismissing Abid Ali thanks to a sharp grip at the short leg by Aiden Markram, Pakistan were in tough straits. They had lost three wikis for just one run, and Azam and Alam had work to do.
It did not help that one of the two spinners in the South African line, George Linde, was sent off in the 23rd over, after injuring his finger on the bowling arm. That, combined with Azam and Alam ‘s defensive ability meant that South African archers had to be willing. After his early explosion, Maharaj’s success dried up, despite long-spell bowling.
George Linde Update:
No x-rays were reported.
Discounts were applied and protective straps were applied. The medical team will evaluate how it manages aspects of play from now on. #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/W40ZoIRXJ8– South African Cricket (@OfficialCSA) February 4, 2021
Azam, who has scraped test centuries in his previous two hits at Rawalpindi, was in a good position. It was the yin to yang Alam, shaken to a 125-ball 77 * with tea, after an emotional start. At the other end, Alam was obdurate, his impartial standing and strong defensive punches, punctuated by a few runs, brought him to a 138-ball 42 *.
They took Pakistan through to lunch safely, and went through the entire second session without losing a wicket. Azam took his 16th century test, and Alam seemed to intend to do the same in the last session. However, relentless rain meant that bats had to wait until the second morning to reach these landmarks. That is unless there is another good morning session in South Africa.