Captain Shan Masood’s fluent 87 and Abdullah Shafique’s composed 57 guided Pakistan to 259 for 5 on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa on Monday, after the hosts elected to bat first on a slow and unresponsive surface.
Masood And Shafique Steady After Early Wobble
After Imam-ul-Haq fell to Simon Harmer early, Masood and Shafique rebuilt with a composed 111-run stand for the second wicket. Both were measured in their approach, finding gaps and rotating strike as Pakistan focused on attrition rather than acceleration.
Shafique, however, led a charmed life — dropped thrice on 0, 15 and 41 — before eventually edging Harmer down the leg side for 57. Masood, elegant through the covers and firm on the pull, looked set for a hundred before top-edging a sweep off Keshav Maharaj to deep square leg for 87.
At stumps, Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 42 alongside Salman Agha, ensuring Pakistan ended the day in a position of strength despite losing Mohammad Rizwan (19) to the second new ball.
Proteas Let Slip Key Chances
South Africa’s fielding let them down badly, with four dropped catches — including one off Masood on 71 — costing them dearly. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen beat the bat repeatedly with the new ball, but luck was elusive on a pitch offering neither pace nor swing.
It was an even day. We controlled the run rate well. The ball got soft quickly, so we had to revert to old-fashioned Test cricket.
Maharaj also accounted for Babar Azam, brilliantly caught one-handed by Tony de Zorzi at silly mid-off, while Harmer finished with 2 for 75 after troubling batters with drift and subtle turn.
‘Even-Steven Day,’ Says Maharaj
Despite the missed opportunities, Maharaj remained upbeat about South Africa’s prospects heading into Day 2.
If we had got one more wicket before stumps, we’d probably have had the upper hand. No one means to drop catches, but we bounced back well and took a few sharp ones later. The key tomorrow is to start strong, build dot-ball pressure, and get Saud and Salman early.
Slow Track, Patient Batting
The Pindi surface offered little assistance for bowlers, with no significant spin and only occasional low bounce. Pakistan’s batters responded with patience, keeping the run rate under three an over but ensuring partnerships were built on occupation and resolve — vital on a pitch expected to deteriorate as the match progresses.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 259/5 in 91 overs (Shan Masood 87, Abdullah Shafique 57, Saud Shakeel 42*; Keshav Maharaj 2-63, Simon Harmer 2-75) vs South Africa
