New Delhi: Dane Paterson dismissed Babar Azam for 4 runs in the first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, December 26. Babar walked in to bat after Corbin Bosch removed skipper Shan Masood on 14 runs.
Babar faced 10 deliveries and looked uncomfortable against the new ball. Paterson removed him in the second ball of the 18th over. He bowled a length delivery well outside off and Babar tried to push it for a single. But he only managed to get an outside edge and the ball carried through nicely to Markram at the second slip.
Babar Azam in Tests since 2023:
18 innings
356 runs
0 fifties
19.8 average
His last fifty-plus score in Tests was on 26th December 2022.😬pic.twitter.com/UP0xgqy3ex
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) December 26, 2024
The former Pakistan captain has been struggling to score runs in the longest format since 2023. In the last 18 innings, Babar has scored just 356 runs at an average of 19. He was also dropped from the team for the last two Test matches against England at home.
Pakistan lose 4 wickets in 35 overs on Day 1
Babar’s early exit left Pakistan struggling at 131 for 4 in 35 overs (at the time of writing this article). The visitors were already missing out-of-form opener Abdullah Shafique, who was dropped from the team after poor performances in the recent ODI series against South Africa. With Kamran Ghulam (unbeaten 51) and Mohammad Rizwan (24*) at the crease, Pakistan looking to rebuild their innings. However, South African fast bowlers continued to apply pressure on the Pakistani batters.
South Africa didn’t get any wickets in the first hour of the play but after the drinks break, Corbin Bosch removed Shan Masood to claim his first Test wicket while Paterson dismissed Saud Shakeel in the next over. Paterson picked up his second wicket by dismissing Babar while Bosch also took his second wicket by removing Saud Shakeel on 14 runs.
Dane Paterson removed Babar Azam on 4 runs with a brilliant outswinger on Day 1 of the first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
