South Africa Hit Back After Pakistan’s Imam, Masood Fifties

News Desk 

Lahore: South Africa clawed their way back into contention on the opening day of the first Test in Lahore after Pakistan’s openers Imam-ul-Haq and captain Shan Masood had put the hosts in control with a 161-run stand for the second wicket.

The partnership, Pakistan’s joint-highest for the second wicket against South Africa — equalling the 2007 effort by Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan at the same venue — set a strong foundation on a dry surface expected to deteriorate as the match progresses.

Imam and Masood batted fluently, rotating the strike smartly and attacking the spinners with calculated aggression. Both reached their half-centuries, with Masood striking sixes and boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving. However, South Africa hit back in the afternoon session, taking three wickets for just 36 runs to stall Pakistan’s momentum.

Imam fell for 93, missing what would have been his fourth Test century, while Masood departed for 76 after being trapped lbw by offspinner Prenelan Subrayen. The dismissal came shortly after Masood survived a dropped catch off the same bowler.

Earlier, South Africa’s only success in the morning session came through Kagiso Rabada, who removed Abdullah Shafique in the third over of the day with a delivery that swung back sharply and struck him on the pads. The on-field decision of not out was overturned on review.

South Africa fielded a spin-heavy attack with three slow bowlers — Simon Harmer, Subrayen, and Senuran Muthusamy — alongside Rabada and Wiaan Mulder. While Harmer generated early turn and bounce, Pakistan’s batters negotiated him confidently before the spinners began to find success after lunch.

Muthusamy delivered the crucial breakthroughs late in the session. He first dismissed Imam with a sharp-turning delivery that was taken by Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and then removed Saud Shakeel for a duck with a simple return catch, leaving himself on a hat-trick at the tea break.

Babar Azam, greeted with loud cheers from the home crowd, provided some resistance after surviving a close call. Initially given out caught behind off Muthusamy, Babar successfully reviewed the decision before settling in with a pair of crisp boundaries.

He remained unbeaten at the interval, with Pakistan’s middle order now tasked with rebuilding after the team’s early advantage was dented by South Africa’s late surge.

As play resumed after tea, Pakistan’s innings hung delicately poised — the home side looking to build on their solid foundation, and South Africa determined to press home their late-session momentum.