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Aiden Markram. (Photo by Asif Hassan / AFP)
- Yasir Shah, Pakistan’s leg thrower, started the collapse that saw South Africa lose three fast wickets.
- He fired Rassie van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis in quick succession.
- Shah praised Markram, who scored his first half century in Asia.
Yasir Shah, the leg-turning Pakistani, was identified as a threat by Proteas’ middle-order hitter Faf du Plessis.
In the final 30 minutes of the third night of the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan, he emerged as one when he disposed of Rassie van der Dussen and Du Plessis in quick succession to help catalyze a collapse that saw South Africa slide 175/1. to 187/4.
By firing Du Plessis twice in the game, Pakistan’s top bowler was tasked with dealing with SA’s most experienced middle-order hitter and did so effectively.
The second-inning dismissal was probably more significant, as if Du Plessis had survived the complicated spell, he would have gained immeasurable confidence even though his Asian record is not worth losing sleep over.
578 runs in 27 innings with three 50s and a higher score of 80 is not scary and that was what he proved for Pakistan in their battle against Du Plessis.
One stone they struggled to change for, but ultimately did, was Aiden Markram, who put in his post with a 74 of 224 balls that went a long way to answering questions about his ability on the subcontinent.
Shah, who is the fastest on 200 proving grounds in terms of tests needed to reach the mark (33 tests), said the fight against the Markram effect has improved.
Markram’s Asian record (171 runs in 10 innings at 17:10) was no big deal either, but it was well boosted by his first half century on the continent.
“He played well against us even though the grounds did not turn much in South Africa. He has played very well in this game, especially against the spinners. I appreciate how well he played,” Shah said.
What about Pakistan’s chances of winning the Test after the collapse he and Nauman Ali instigated? Shah said they pushed all the right buttons to get into a dominant position.
“We have dominated the game and our pitchers have done well. Nauman also played well, but this was our plan to throw wicket to wicket as the pitch was slow. We needed to contain, which we did successfully. That’s why we have the late wickets, “Shah said.
