South Africa strengthened their position in the first Test on day two, reducing the deficit to just 31 runs with five wickets remaining, as Aiden Markram inched closer to a century.
The Centurion pitch, which began to flatten out, offered little assistance to Pakistan’s bowlers, who struggled for much of the session to apply consistent pressure.
Pakistan opened the day with Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas, but aside from some early movement from Naseem, the bowlers failed to pose a significant challenge to the South African batsmen.
Loose deliveries allowed the run rate to flow steadily, and Pakistan’s attack lacked the sharpness needed to trouble the batters consistently.
Markram quickly reached his half-century, including a pair of boundaries off Abbas, while Temba Bavuma was solid against Naseem, despite one thick outside edge that narrowly missed the slips.
Khurram Shahzad was not called upon until 90 minutes into the session, and it was Aamer Jamal who eventually made the breakthrough, forcing Bavuma to edge one to the wicketkeeper with a well-directed ball outside off stump.
Unlike Pakistan’s batting collapse in the first innings, South Africa managed to maintain their composure after losing a wicket. David Bedingham played with confidence, ensuring the momentum stayed with the hosts. His aggressive stroke play followed a successful lbw review, which seemed to boost his confidence, but he was eventually dismissed.
Naseem changed his length and tested Bedingham outside off, and the batsman drove a ball on the backfoot, edging it to first slip, where Kamran Ghulam took a clean catch.
Despite the late breakthrough, Pakistan’s bowlers will be hopeful that the dismissal of Bedingham offers them a chance to reel in South Africa’s lead as they aim to keep the hosts from building a commanding total.
