Debutant Nauman puts SA in a spin as Pakistan win 1st Test

Published at 04:10 pm January 29th, 2021

Pakistan's Nauman Ali (3R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Temba Bavuma (L) during the fourth day of their first Test match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday AFP

34-year-old Nauman Ali claimed the final four wickets to fall, taking his tally to seven in the test, as the tourists were dismissed for 245, which set Pakistan a modest victory target of 88

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took five for 35 on debut to brush aside the South African tail in their second innings and see Pakistan to a comfortable seven-wicket victory on day four of the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

The 34-year-old claimed the final four wickets to fall, taking his tally to seven in the test, as the tourists were dismissed for 245, which set Pakistan a modest victory target of 88.

A five-wicket haul for Nauman Ali on debut 👏👏👏https://t.co/GKkfvzknXw #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/fPGHh99amD
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 29, 2021

The hosts had a wobble when Anrich Nortje removed two batsmen in one over, but skipper Babar Azam (30) and Azhar Ali (31 not out) eased their side to a comprehensive victory in a match in which fortunes fluctuated until a burst of wickets for Pakistan late on the third day turned the game in their favour.

The second and final test starts in Rawalpindi on Thursday. South Africa will also play three Twenty20 Internationals on the tour, their first in Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009, in which six policemen and two civilians were killed.