Bosch takes the wicket off his first ball as Pakistan reach 88-4 in 1st Test against South Africa

On By Littum

CENTURION, South Africa (AP) – Fast bowler Corbin Bosch made a dream Test debut with a wicket on his first ball to give South Africa a perfect start to the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan on Thursday.

Bosch coaxed Pakistan captain Shan Masood (17) to play a lost drive and had him caught in the tie as Pakistan reached 88-4 at lunch on a seamer-friendly SuperSport Park pitch, losing four wickets for 20 runs.

Bosch became the fifth South African bowler after Bert Vogler, Dane Piedt, Hardu Viljoen and Tshepo Moreki to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket.

Kamran Ghulam was unbeaten on 23, including a top-six over the wicketkeeper’s head against Bosch, and Mohammad Rizwan was not out on 10 at the break.

Masood and opening partner Saim Ayub (14) had thwarted the pace threat of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the first hour after captain Temba Bavuma won the toss in overcast conditions and opted to field.

But Bosch’s breakthrough saw Pakistan’s top order crumble with pace, with Dane Paterson finding the edge of Ayub and Babar Azam (4).

Babar, who was dropped in the last two Test matches at home against England, has long struggled in red-ball cricket. His struggles continued as he hit Bosch for a boundary off the first ball he faced before playing loose to Paterson and was caught in the slips after just 11 balls.

Left-hander Saud Shakeel (14) hit three fours against Paterson before Bosch had him caught down the leg side of a sharp short ball after South Africa successfully went for a TV review.

Both teams packed their playing XIs with four fast bowlers each and did not include a specialist spinner at a venue where pace has dominated the past six years.

South Africa, who lead the World Test Championship points table, need a win in one of the two Test matches against Pakistan to guarantee a place in next June’s final at Lord’s.

Pakistan’s seventh seed included fast bowlers Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas and Aamer Jamal in its squad.

Abbas made a comeback to Test cricket after more than three years, while Naseem returned after missing the last two home Tests against England in October.

The injury-hit Shahzad also missed three home Test matches against England but got the nod ahead of left-arm pace bowler Mir Hamza.

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