Pak v SA, 1st Test: Pakistan to resume innings on Day 3 with 88 runs lead

The first test match between Pakistan and South Africa continues for the third day at Karachi’s National Stadium.

After dominating the entire second day, Pakistan will resume their innings with 88 runs lead and two wickets in hand.

Fawad Alam, who held the innings together with a magnificent 109 off 245 balls, finally got out to Lungi Ngidi even as the Proteas struggled against the Pakistan lower-middle order.

Fawad Alam’s third Test century and his second in his past three games has put Pakistan in charge after the second day of the first Test against South Africa.

Brilliant Alam hit nine fours and two sixes in a patient ton to help his team reach 8-308 at stumps on Wednesday.

Faheem Ashraf also scored a fluent 64 off 84 balls as Pakistan opened up a first-innings lead of 88 runs on a slow wicket. He and Alam shared a stand of 102 for the seventh wicket.

Debutant Nauman Ali was six not out and Hasan Ali, who was bowled by Keshav Maharaj off a no-ball late in the day, was unbeaten on 11.

In his statement, Alam said that, “I am feeling out of this world at the moment, it was a very good innings because the team needed it the most.”

He added that “I think we can put South Africa under more pressure if we manage to add 20-30 more runs tomorrow because the pitch looks like quite slow and double-paced.”

Playing XIs

Pakistan XI 1. Abid Ali 2. Imran Butt (debut) 3. Azhar Ali 4. Babar Azam (capt) 5. Fawad Alam 6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 7. Faheem Ashraf 8. Hassan Ali 9. Nouman Ali (debut) 10. Yasir Shah 11. Shaheen Afridi

South Africa XI 1. Aiden Markram 2. Dean Elgar 3. Faf du Plessis 4. Rassie van der Dussen 5. Temba Bavuma 6. Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), 7. George Linde 8. Keshav Maharaj 9. Kagiso Rabada 10. Anrich Nortje 11. Lungi Ngidi