Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
South Africa are in pole position to win the Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan after a stellar show with both bat and ball at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
With a World Test Championship (WTC) final spot up for grabs, the Proteas have a new hero in their ranks after Corbin Bosch wrote his name in the history books on Friday (Dec 27).
Bosch hit an attacking 81 not out and took South Africa to a 90-run first-innings lead. South Africa were bowled out for 301 in reply to Pakistan’s 211.
Aiden Markram was the highest scorer for the side with 89 off 144 while the middle order had an off day after Tony de Zorzi (2), Ryan Rickelton (8) and Tristan Stubbs (9) departed cheaply.
Pakistan finished the day on 88-3, still two runs behind.
The visitors have Babar Azam (16) and Saud Shakeel (8) batting in the middle. Pakistan lost the wickets of Saim Ayub (27), skipper Shan Masood (28) and Kamran Ghulam (4) before the stumps were called for Day 2.
It was the continuation of a remarkable debut for the 30-year-old, who took 4-63 in the first innings and was clocked at 147km/h, the fastest of any bowler in the match.
Bosch, whose Test cricketer father Tertius died when Corbin was five years old, was low on the list of potential Test fast bowlers at the start of the season.
But a lengthy list of injuries to bigger-name players, as well as good recent form, opened the door for him.
Bosch shared the new ball with Kagiso Rabada at the start of Pakistan’s second innings but did not take a wicket and left the field at the end of a three-over stint.
Saim Ayub and Shan Masood, who both made 28, put on 49 for the first wicket before Rabada bowled Ayub.
Marco Jansen followed up by having Masood caught at third slip and first innings top-scorer Kamran Ghulam caught at gully for eight before bad light stopped play.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas.
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch.