Recent Competition Report – South Africa v Pakistan 1st Test 2020/21

South Africa will take confidence as this was not a session that Pakistani archers were threatening to overcome

Lon South Africa 94 for 2 (Elgar 46 *, du Plessis 14 *) vs. Pakistan

The tactical battles of a test game are often compared to chess, and the opening moves in Karachi marked a fair game so far. South Africa started on the front leg after winning the toss and opting for a bat, with an obvious plan not to let the Pakistani bowlers soak them down. While the runs flowed relatively cheaply, Pakistan returned with a couple of goals that gave the visitors a slight rebound. Each side can enjoy lunch with the satisfaction that the plans they have developed have been effectively implemented, but 94 for 2 after one session means that this is a test match that is not yet ready for its hand. appear.

It looked as if South Africa had bought the Pakistan line about this as a spinning controlled series in preparation for three spinners. Tabraiz Shamsi withdrew that due to back spasms just before the toss could be a blessing in disguise. It meant that each side entered the game with three sailors and two spinners.

Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram welcomed Hasan Ali back to test cricket with five fours in his first two appearances to put South Africa off to a lively start. That approach, while a lot of fun, was punctuated by two wicks. Shaheen Shah Afridi got a man to sew away from Markram, with editor Imran Butt diving to his left at the second slip to push the edge.

The wicket did not stop South Africa much, with Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen holding the scoreboard struggling while the archers struggled to win. Well into the second hour, the bats had the edge before a moment of self-destruction gave Pakistan a wicket that could have been folded with a gift with a bow on it. Van der Dussen went for one Elgar who didn’t agree, and with the striker just turning him down after being halfway down the pitch, Mohammad Rizwan dominated the run.

That dried up the scraps in the third final of the session, although South Africa will be reassured that this was not a session that Pakistani archers were threatening to overcome. Pakistan may find that they need to make a better move after lunch, or South Africa may feel that today could be a fertile day for the start a journey.