Pakistan finished day one of the second Test against South Africa at 259 for 5, after the Proteas staged a late comeback at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Captain Shan Masood led from the front with a solid 87 off 176 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes, while Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 42 at stumps. Pakistan will resume their innings on day two with Salman Ali Agha (10*) alongside Shakeel.
Earlier, Pakistan started strongly with openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique finding early boundaries. The pair added 35 runs before Simon Harmer dismissed Imam for 17. Shafique then partnered with Shan Masood, building a steady 111-run stand that steadied the innings.
Shafique reached his fifty before falling to Harmer for 57 off 146 balls, leaving Pakistan at 146-2. Babar Azam joined Masood but couldn’t stay long, scoring 16 before Keshav Maharaj removed him at 167-3.
Masood, in fine touch, notched his 13th Test fifty and pushed Pakistan past 200 runs in the 70th over. However, Maharaj struck again, dismissing the skipper for 87, followed by Kagiso Rabada removing Mohammad Rizwan for 19.
By the close of play, Pakistan stood at 259-5 in 87 overs.
For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer took two wickets each, while Kagiso Rabada claimed one. The Proteas fought back well in the final session after a strong start by Pakistan’s top order.
With Shakeel and Agha at the crease, Pakistan will aim to build a big total on day two, while South Africa will look for early wickets to stay in the contest.
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