Thrilling Day 1 at Gaddafi: Pakistan Posts 313-5 Against South Africa in Historic WTC Test

The first day of the much-anticipated Test match between Pakistan and South Africa at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium witnessed an engaging contest, with Pakistan ending the day at a strong 313-5 against the reigning World Test Champions.

Opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq nearly marked a remarkable comeback by scoring a fluent 93 runs, narrowly missing out on a century after almost two years. Partnering with captain Shan Masood, who contributed a valuable 76, the duo solidified Pakistan's innings with a robust 161-run second-wicket stand, setting a confident tone for the match.

South Africa, despite missing key players like regular captain Temba Bavuma due to a calf injury and frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj only available from the second Test, actively challenged Pakistan with their spinners, including Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy. The Proteas' spin trio toiled hard on the abrasive track, eventually taking three quick wickets without conceding runs, momentarily turning pressure on Pakistan.

The lower order resisted well as Mohammad Rizwan (62 not out) and Salman Ali Agha (52 not out) showcased aggressive stroke play, especially dominating through sweeping shots against spin in the final session. Rizwan's innings was marked by two narrow escapes — a dropped catch and a successfully overturned LBW decision — while Agha also benefited from a dropped edge, helping Pakistan maintain momentum.

South Africa struck with the wicket of Babar Azam, who struggled for form and was dismissed after scoring 23. The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium, hosting only its second Test since test cricket's return to Pakistan in 2019, provided substantial assistance to spinners, aligning with Pakistan's historical strength on home spin-friendly tracks.

South African captain Aiden Markram acknowledged the absence of Bavuma and Maharaj as significant but expressed confidence in the team’s depth and adaptability, highlighting the efforts made by his squad to prepare for subcontinental conditions, including training on underprepared wickets back home.

Pakistan, finishing the day on a strong note, aimed to leverage home advantage and build a positive foundation for its World Test Championship campaign, particularly after a less successful previous cycle. The stage is set for a gripping contest with spin bowling expected to play a decisive role as the series progresses.