Markram moves closer to tonne as South Africa reach 180-5 at lunch in first Test against Pakistan

Centurion (Reuters):  Aiden Markram was 19 runs short of a Test century at lunch on Friday as South Africa reached 180-5 on the second day of the first Test in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 211.

Markram has been under pressure after a series of low scores for South Africa but showed his value to the team with a chanceless knock that left South Africa 31 runs in arrears with five wickets in hand at Centurion.

He will resume on 81 with Kyle Verreynne (0 not out) after lunch, looking to build a lead for the hosts as they chase the win that would assure them a place in next June’s World Test Championship final.

But two wickets for Pakistan in Friday’s morning session kept them firmly in the contest with both captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham dismissed in the first session.

South Africa was 82-3 overnight with Markram and Bavuma putting on a further 54 runs before the skipper was dismissed, offering a thick outside edge to a delivery from Aamer Jamal and was caught behind for 31.

Bedingham was characteristically attacking in his short spell at the crease, scoring 30 runs off 33 balls, before extra bounce from Naseem Shah saw him edge to Kamran Ghulam in the slips.

Markram was 47 overnight and moved quickly past 50 runs in the third over of the morning as Pakistan toiled for the first hour before they made their breakthrough.

South Africa needs to win one of the two-match series against Pakistan to reach the WTC final at Lords in June, adding extra pressure to the contest. They have won their last seven home tests against Pakistan.

The first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa is underway in Centurion, where the hosts are batting.

In the first Test match, the host team started the second day's play today with 82 runs for the loss of three wickets.

First day of game

On the first day of the match, South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first, in response to which the Pakistan team was all out for 211 runs.

Kamran Ghulam was the outstanding batsman in the first innings for the Pakistan team. He faced 71 balls and scored 54 runs with 8 fours and 1 six.

The first wicket fell for Pakistan for 36 runs when captain Shan Masood scored 17 runs, followed by young batsman Saim Ayub who scored 14 runs for a total score of 40.

Former national team captain Babar Azam played for only four runs but he completed his 4,000 runs in the Test match. Pakistan team had to suffer its fourth loss at a total score of 56 when Saud Shakeel scored 14 runs.

After him, Kamran Ghulam was dismissed at a total score of 137, then Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed at a total score of 142 for 27 runs, Amir Jamal was bowled by Bush at a total score of 189 after scoring 28 runs, and then the very next over, Pakistan team had to suffer a loss in the form of Salman Ali Agha who could score 18 runs.

After Salman Ali Agha, Naseem Shah was dismissed without scoring any runs and then Khurram Shahzad returned to the field at a total score of 211 after scoring 11 runs. Mohammad Abbas remained not out with 10 runs.

For South Africa, Dean Pietersen took five wickets, while Karbin Bosh took four wickets, and Marco Johnson took one wicket.

Pakistan took three wickets in 22 overs, with Khurram Shahzad taking two and Mohammad Abbas taking one wicket.