Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Skipper Babar Azam and in-form Fawad Alam led Pakistan’s recovery after early jitters before rain washed out the final session on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Rawalpindi Stadium here on Thursday. Azam hit an attractive 77 not out and Alam a solid 42 to lift Pakistan to 145-3 at tea from a precarious 22-3 after the home team won the toss and batted on a flat, brownish pitch. Spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-51) and pacer Anrich Nortje (1-30) had left Pakistan struggling on 63-3 at lunch but Azam and Alam added 123 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand to steady the innings. Azam, who managed just seven and 30 in the first Test, returned to his stylish best, having so far punched 12 boundaries in his 16th Test half-century. Alam, who scored a fighting hundred in the first Test, was steady with five hits to the fence.

Earlier, Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, reached 21 without loss before throwing away three wickets for one run in the space of 23 balls. Maharaj, brought into the attack in just the ninth over, had opener Imran Butt caught behind for 15 and then trapped senior batsman Azhar Ali leg-before for nought in his next over. Nortje then produced a sharp rising delivery to Abid Ali, (six) whose fended push was caught smartly at short-leg by Aiden Markram.

South Africa’s second spinner George Linde was forced off after just 2.5 overs with a laceration to the small finger on his left hand. Scans revealed no fracture but Linde is likely to be impeded for the rest of the test, which will be a blow for the visitors. The rain started to fall as the players went off for tea, with the entire final session lost. Pakistan were unchanged from their seven-wicket first Test win, while South Africa included all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the place of Lungi Ngidi.