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So Pakistan are off to a winning way under the leadership of Babr Azam. Many notable performances to remember from this Test, the most important being Fawad Alam's hundred. Then there was five for from Numan Ali. There were the fifties from Azar Ali and Faheem Ashraf and a four-for from Yasir Shah. A few takeaways for the visitors too. Dean Elgar had a fifty to his name. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen hit fighting fifties in the second inning. Not to forget Kagiso Rabada. The speedster broker several records on his way to 200 Test wickets. South Africa still has ammunitions to fight back and level the series. The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi and the action begins on 4th February.
Babar Azam: We are thankful to God for this win. We had plans in place and the plan worked. At Toss I talked that a partnership was needed on this pitch and Fawad Alam with other batsmen stitched a partnership to help us. The bowlers too bowled well. Numan Ali bowled well as did Yasir Shah. South Africa is a quality team they have good fast bowlers. But this is a slow pitch so Numan Ali bowled well on this pitch and he was able to give us wickets at the right time.
Quinton de Kock: We were very soft in our first inning and that was the reason for the loss. I don't think we took too long to adjust on a slow pitch. But we were just too soft and some soft dismissals. There are few lessons learned here. Our bowlers bowled with good aggression and I am happy with that.
Fawad Alam: It was an important inning because the team was in need as the team was at 36/4 and thanks to God that I was able to contribute. There was pressure on me when I was making my comeback in the side after 11 years but again thanks to God I was able to come up with a performance. The pitch was slowing down but we had a plan in place.
Fawad Alam is also the Man of the Match!
Fawad Alam wins the PCB award for the "Individual Performance of the Year 2020" for his hundred against New Zealand last year.
Right then the Post Match Presentation.
Pakistan win by 7 wickets.
Winning the toss, South African skipper Quinton de Kock opted to bat first. Dean Elgar was the standout batsman in South Africa's first inning as he made a fighting fifty in South Africa's total of 220. South African batsmen struggled against an all-round bowling performance of Yasir Shah (3/54), Numan Ali (2/38), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/49).
In response, Pakistan made 378, thanks to a stellar hundred from Fawad Alam. The left-handed batsman, currently enjoying a purple patch since his comeback in the Pakistan national side, made 109 from 254 balls. There were the fifties from former skipper Azar Ali and Faheem Asharf. Thanks to these batting performances Pakistan had a handy lead of 158 runs. As far as South African bowling was concerned, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj picked three wickets each. Rabada reached the milestone of 200 Test wickets when he dismissed Hasan Ali. In the process, the South African speedster broker several records.
The pitch started to slow down when it was South Africa's turn to bat for the second time in the match. The ball also started bouncing awkwardly and also started keeping low. Dean Elgar injured his hand when a bouncer for Afridi rose sharply off the deck and hit his hand. On the difficult track, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen made fighting fifties. As the pitch started to turn, Pakistan spin twin of Yasir Shah and Numan Ali ran through South Africa's middle order. Yasir picked four wickets but Numan Ali made his Test debut worth remembering as he picked a five-for to warp-up the South African inning on 245.
Set 88 runs to win, there was a slight hiccup for Pakistan at the start of the second session of Day 4 as Anrich Nortje picked the wickets of Imran Butt and Abid Ali in one over. But former skipper Azar Ali and current skipper Babar Azam stitched a vital partnership to stabilize the chase. Azam was trapped in front of the wickets for the second time in the match by Kesav Maharaj with Pakistan just two runs short of the win. The wicket gave the opportunity to Fawad Alam to march to the middle and hit the winning stroke for Pakistan.
And no better batsman than Fawad Alam to score the winning runs for Pakistan!
22.5 Keshav Maharaj to Fawad Alam, FOUR! FAWAD TAKES PAKISTAN HOME! Marginally short outside off stump and that is just the sort of delivery Fawad is after! He rocks onto the back foot and scythes that one through the off side past point for four
22.4 Keshav Maharaj to Fawad Alam, full delivery outside off stump. Fawad gets onto the front foot and flicks that one straight to the fielder at mid wicket
22.3 Keshav Maharaj to Fawad Alam, back of a length delivery outside off stump that bounces a tad extra. Fawad rides it well enough and drops the ball into the off side with soft hands
22.2 Keshav Maharaj to Fawad Alam, full delivery just outside off stump. Fawad comes forward and prods the ball down the ground towards the bowler
Fawad Alam, LHB, walks out to bat.
22.1 Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, OUT! THAT IS DEAD! Tossed up on a length on middle and leg stump. Babar takes a half step forward and has a loose poke at that one. The ball spins past the outside edge and raps him on the back pad. South Africa appeal and Aleem Dar raises his finger instantly! Babar reviews though!
There seems to be no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball would have thumped into off stump! Seems fitting that Fawad Alam now gets a chance to take Pakistan home!
Just two needed now for Pakistan to win the match.
21.6 George Linde to Azhar Ali, length delivery just outside off stump. Azhar seems to be beaten in the flight but does well to adjust and dab the ball towards the fielder at point
21.5 George Linde to Azhar Ali, full delivery on leg stump. Azhar gets a massive stride forward and taps the ball down the ground towards the bowler
