Shan Masood shines as Pakistan post 259/5 on day one against South Africa

The opening day of the second and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa concluded with the home side posting a respectable 259 for 5 at stumps, thanks largely to skipper Shan Masood’s composed 87-run knock at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Winning the toss, Shan Masood opted to bat first on a surface that offered early assistance to the bowlers.

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq opened the innings for Pakistan, putting on a cautious start before Imam was bowled by Simon Harmer for 17.

Abdullah Shafique looked solid at the crease, compiling a well-crafted 57 before falling to Harmer.

Star batter Babar Azam once again failed to convert his start, dismissed for 16 by Keshav Maharaj.

Captain Shan Masood, however, steadied the innings with a fluent 87, striking boundaries all around the ground and guiding Pakistan past 200.

His partnership with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (19) provided stability before both were dismissed in quick succession.

At the close of play, Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 42, while Agha Salman was not out on 10, as Pakistan reached 259/5.

For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer shared two wickets apiece, while Kagiso Rabada claimed one.

Earlier, Pakistan were well placed on 95-1 at lunch on the opening day of the second and final Test against South Africa.

Opener Abdullah Shafique lived dangerously in reaching 37 and with him Shan Masood was on 38 after Pakistan won the toss on another spin-friendly pitch at Rawalpindi stadium.

The skipper Masood batted aggressively, hitting three sixes and a four, while Shafique scored four fours as the duo made 60 for the unbeaten second wicket.

South Africa's only breakthrough came by off-spinner Simon Harmer, who bowled Imam-ul-Haq for 17 with a sharp turner that beat the bat and hit off-stump.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada initially swung the new ball but saw Tristan Stubbs drop Shafique in the slips off the fourth ball of the match for nought.

Having won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs, Pakistan strengthened their attack by including a third spinner in Asif Afridi, dropping fast bowler Hasan Ali.

At 38 years and 299 days, Asif becomes the second-oldest Pakistani Test debutant, behind Miran Bakhsh, who made his debut at 47 years and 284 days against India in 1955.

South Africa included experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test with injury, and added Marco Jansen to partner Rabada in the pace attack.

Spinner Asif Afridi

Teams:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada

Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL) and Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN)

Tv umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)