VAT JOU PAK

THE Proteas are on the back foot after day one of their first Test against Pakistan in Lahore. 

The hosts finished Sunday on 313/5 after no fewer than four of their batters klapped half-centuries. 

Imam-ul-Haq (93) was the top scorer, followed by Shan Masood (76), while Mohammad Rizwan (62 not out) and Salman Agha (52 not out) rebuilt the innings with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 114 in the final session on a spin-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch.

Senuran Muthusamy was the most successful of South Africa’s three frontline spinners, taking 2/101 in 26 overs. 

But Pakistan dominated most of the first two sessions, before a mini-collapse from 163/1 to 199/5 as they lost four wickets for 36 runs – the last three without adding a run either side of the tea interval.

Spinner Prenelan Subrayen trapped Masood lbw for 76 to end a 161-run stand with Haq.

Left-arm spinner Muthusamy then had Haq caught at short-leg by Tony de Zorzi.

The next ball, Muthusamy had Saud Shakeel caught and bowled to bring the Proteas back into the game at 199/4.

Local hero Babar Azam fell for 23, trapped leg-before by off-spinner Simon Harmer after tea to make it 199/5.

The Proteas could have been in a better position had they not dropped Masood on 61 and Haq on 72 with Subrayen the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

With the pitch likely to turn, Masood opted to bat after winning the toss and named specialist spin duo Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in his Pakistan span.

Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique leg before to pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada off the third ball of the day, but there were no further dramas in the opening session as Pakistan reached 107/1 at lunch.

Play resumes at 7am on Monday.