Centurion – Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch delivered sensational bowling performances to dismantle Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test at Supersport Park, Centurion. The pair combined to take nine of the ten wickets, leaving South Africa in a strong position at stumps.
Pakistan was bowled out for a modest 211, with Paterson claiming 5-61 and Bosch, on debut, taking 4-63. In response, South Africa reached 82-3 by the close, trailing by 129 runs. Aiden Markram stood firm with an unbeaten 47, guiding the Proteas through a tricky final session.
A Tale of Two Bowlers
Paterson, at 35, continues to defy expectations with his subtle seam movement and control. His efforts marked his second consecutive five-wicket haul in Test cricket, underlining his importance to the South African attack. Reflecting on his performance, Paterson credited a mid-match adjustment in length after discussions with bowling coach Piet Botha. “They were standing outside the crease, so I just had to pull my length back. After lunch, I focused on hitting the deck hard, and the variable bounce played into our hands,” he said.
Bosch, in contrast, brought raw pace and aggression to the attack, consistently clocking over 145 kph. His debut will be remembered for a dream start, becoming only the fourth South African to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket. Pakistan captain Shan Masood edged a drive to Marco Jansen in the gully, sparking jubilant celebrations. Bosch described the moment as surreal. “I was just happy it bounced. The nerves were there, but I couldn’t have imagined a better start,” he said.
A growing collection😁
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 27, 2024
Keshav hands over the match ball to Dane in celebration of his second International Test 5’ver yesterday!👏🏏#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/Wv9CRX93Fy
Pakistan's Collapse
Pakistan’s innings began cautiously, reaching 36-0 after the first hour despite several near-misses. However, Bosch’s introduction changed the course of the day. Masood’s dismissal triggered a collapse, with Saim Ayub (14) and Babar Azam (4) falling shortly after to Paterson. Saud Shakeel’s aggressive cameo (14 from five balls) ended with a gloved catch down the leg side, leaving Pakistan at 56-4.
Kamran Ghulam’s counterattacking 54 from 71 balls provided some resistance, but Paterson’s persistence saw him dismissed after the break, caught at long leg by Kagiso Rabada. Mohammad Rizwan (27) followed soon after, edging to Markram at slip.
A seventh-wicket partnership between Amir Jamal (28) and Salman Agha (18) added 47 valuable runs before Bosch and Paterson wrapped up the tail. Pakistan lost their final three wickets without adding to the score, with Naseem Shah falling to Bosch for a duck.
Markram Leads Proteas Reply
In response, South Africa made a strong start with Markram anchoring the innings. However, Pakistan fought back with Khurram Shahzad dismissing Tony de Zorzi (2) and Ryan Rickelton (8), while Mohammad Abbas trapped Tristan Stubbs lbw for 9. Markram’s fluent 47 from 67 balls, featuring nine boundaries, ensured South Africa ended the day in control.
⚪🟢Day 1 | Stumps
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 26, 2024
What a day of cricketing action! ☄️🏏
🇵🇰 Pakistan: 211/10 (1st Innings)
🇿🇦 South Africa: 82/3 after 22 overs at stumps.
A solid start for the Proteas.
Looking forward to more action tomorrow! 💪#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/v7DfIwOF7Y
A Special Day for Bosch
For Bosch, the day was made even more special by playing at his home ground with his mother in attendance. In tribute to her, Bosch wore the number 37, reversing the year of her birth. “This is for my mom, who often goes unnoticed,” Bosch said.
With South Africa eyeing a lead on a pitch expected to develop uneven bounce, Paterson and Bosch’s performances have given the Proteas the upper hand as they push for a decisive victory and continue their march toward the World Test Championship final.
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