Home team Pakistan defeated South Africa in both the Test matches in the home series to win it by a margin of 2-0. Visitors South Africa have had their moments in this series which could have helped them even win the series by the same margin, but failed to build on them!
Test #1: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Having opted to bat first, South Africa failed to put a good score on the board. They were bowled out for 220 courtesy a half-century from opener Dean Elgar (58). Pakistan were then reduced to 27/4 but a century from Fawad Alam (109) and half-centuries each from Azhar Ali (51) and Faheem Ashraf (64) helped the home team take a lead of 158 runs in the first innings.
Visitors have done well to waive off the lead losing just a wicket, courtesy a 127-run stand between Markram (74) and Rassie van der Dussen (64) for the second wicket. However, visitors soon collapsed once Pakistan broke this stand. From 175/1, they were bowled out for 247 setting a 88-run target for the hosts. Pakistan successfully chased it down with 7 wickets in hand to go 1-0 up in the 2-match series.
Brief Scores: Pakistan – 378 all out (Fawad Alam – 109, Kagiso Rabada – 3/70) & 90/3 (Azhar Ali – 31*, Anrich Nortje – 2/24) defeated South Africa – 220 all out (Dean Elgar – 58, Yasir Shah – 3/54) & 245 all out (Aiden Markram – 74, Nauman Ali – 5/35) by a margin of 7 wickets
Test #2: Pakistan won by 95 runs
Pakistan batted first in this Test and a half-century from their captain Babar Azam (77) helped hosts score 272 before getting all-out. A five-for from Hasan Ali saw South Africa bundled for just 201, conceding hosts a 71-run lead in the first innings. None of the South Africans managed to get past the 50-run mark in this innings.
An unbeaten century from wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan (115) boosted Pakistan to 298 in their 2nd innings thereby setting a 370-run target for the visitors. South Africa were so clinical during the chase until the second session on Day 5. However, the collapse started later on! From 241/3, they were bowled out for 274 losing the Test match by a margin of 95 runs. Aiden Markram (115) and Temba Bavuma (61) shared a 107-run stand for the fourth wicket but it was all in vain!
Brief Scores: Pakistan – 272 all out (Babar Azam – 77, Anrich Nortje – 5/56) & 298 all out (Mohammad Rizwan – 115, George Linde – 5/64) defeated South Africa – 201 all out (Temba Bavuma – 44, Hasan Ali – 5/54) & 274 all out (Aiden Markram – 108, Hasan Ali – 5/60) by a margin of 95 runs
Player of the Match & Series:
- Fawad Alam has been presented with the ‘Player of the Match’ in the first Test for his century in the first innings. He was also undefeated in the second innings scoring 4 runs in the 4 deliveries he faced.
- Hasan Ali bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award in the second Test for registering five-wicket hauls in both innings of the Test match. This is also the first time Hasan bagged 10 wickets in a Test match!
- Mohammad Rizwan bagged the ‘Player of the Series’ for his contribution in this series victory. He scored 166 runs in the 3 innings he batted in this series. Rizwan was a surprising selection for this award as there were other better contributors in this series!
What’s next for Pakistan and South Africa?
The Test series is now done and dusted between these two teams. In the next assignment, both these teams will face off each other in a 3-match T20I series starting from Feb 11. The three T20I matches will be played on Feb 11, 13 & 14. All the games are scheduled to be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.
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