The Proteas and Pakistan locked horns on the first day of the all-important Boxing Day Test at Centurion. Independent Media Sport’s Zaahier Adams picks five Plays of the Day.
PASSION 😤![CDATA[]]>🔥
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 26, 2024
Corbin Bosch is loving Test cricket 👏![CDATA[]]>👏
📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/qt1QtICD8J
Dream debut
It was an emotional day for Corbin Bosch after he was selected to make his Test debut on the same ground his late father, former Proteas fast bowler Tertius Bosch, earned his fiery reputation. Tertius would have been cheering on from the heavens though when Corbin picked up his maiden Test wicket with his very first ball, dismissing Pakistan captain Shan Masood. He went to pick up three more to finish with dream debut figures of 4/63.
Dane Paterson with his big teeth caught all the big fishes of Pakistan. Man left no crumbs.#PAKvsSA pic.twitter.com/gl7lHiyaqz
— Schrodinger 🕊️ (@5ulphuric_Acid) December 26, 2024
Absolute peach
Saim Ayub was the thorn in the Proteas’ flesh during the ODI series with the young opener striking two centuries in three matches. An absolute peach of a delivery was therefore required to remove the in-form left hander and Dane Paterson obliged. The veteran seamer got one to come in before holding its line to just kiss the outside edge of Ayub’s bat.
Live by the sword, die by the sword
Kamran Ghulam played an adventurous counter-attacking innings which brought him a half-century off just 52 balls (8x4; 1x6).
It formed the basis of a 81-run partnership with Mohammed Rizwan and Pakistan seemed to have done the repair work after losing four wickets for just 20 runs. But that’s when Ghulam suffered a rush of blood when he ran down the wicket and took a swipe only to see the ball fly down to fine-leg.
How good have these two been?!😱
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 26, 2024
Dane Paterson bringing up consecutive test match 5-wicket hauls and Corbin Bosch on the verge of his 5'ver on debut.
They have been on FIRE!🔥![CDATA[]]>😃![CDATA[]]>👊#WozaNawe#BePartOfIt #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/ME936UmU46
Paterson like a London bus
Having had to wait until he was 35-years-old for his first Test five-wicket haul in the last Test, Dane Paterson has resembled a London bus as his second “Michelle” has came in the very next Test here at Centurion.
Magic Markram
Aiden Markram has endured a torrid time of late across formats. But the Proteas vice-captain just loves batting at Centurion and he certainly looked a determined figure when he walked out the crease today. Tellingly, Markram was looking to play straight instead of through mid-wicket which has proved to be his undoing of late. A majestic on-drive showed that Markram was looking to settle in. | Independent Media Sport