Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed took the attack to the South Africans in the second session of day two of the final Test to earn himself today’s Play of the Day accolade, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
Sarfraz walked to the crease just before lunch, with Pakistan struggling on 91-5 in pursuit of South Africa’s first innings score of 262. The captain took matters into his own hands after the interval as he smashed the Proteas’ fiery bowlers to all parts.
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Pakistan’s captain needed only 38 deliveries to reach his 50 which included eight defiant fours. He also put on a quickfire 78-run partnership alongside the in-form Babar Azam (49 off 66 balls, 10×4) as the visitors looked to stamp some authority on the encounter.
The knock goes down in the record books as the third-fastest half-century of all time by a Pakistan captain in Test cricket, but Sarfraz will be disappointed to have lost his wicket two balls later as he edged Kagiso Rabada into the safe hands of Hashim Amla at slip.
Sarfraz Ahmed's half century earlier today was the third fastest (38 balls) for any Pakistan captain in Test cricket ?
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details ? https://t.co/umFsx7xdIO #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/RrIi6o3IBi
— Cricingif (@_cricingif) January 12, 2019
Pakistan will return to the action on day three on Sunday hoping to restrict the South Africans in their second innings, especially considering that the hosts already have a 212-run lead with five wickets in hand.
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Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
