ISLAMABAD – Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said the loss of five wickets onthe first morning after his side were sent in had put Pakistan in aposition from which it was difficult to recover.
A first innings total of 177 was not enough to put pressure on the SouthAfrican batsmen, a situation made worse by what Sarfraz described as a poorbowling performance.
“Our bowling was not up to the mark,” said Sarfraz. “Our bowling averagespeed was 130 (kilometres an hour), South Africa were bowling at 145. Ourbowling was far better (in the first Test) in Centurion.”
Apart from being down on pace, Sarfraz said the Pakistan bowlers deliveredtoo many loose balls to provide scoring opportunities for the South Africanbatsmen.
Sarfraz acknowledged that a single warm-up game had not been enough toprepare Pakistan for South African conditions but he took heart from thesecond innings in which Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam scoredimpressive half-centuries.
“That is how you play Test cricket,” he said. “We are getting better dayby day. Hopefully we will do well in Johannesburg. We have nothing to lose.”
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South Africa lost a wicket and added another injury concern before DeanElgar struck part-time bowler Azhar Ali for two boundaries to finish thematch.
Theunis de Bruyn, opening in place of Aiden Markram, who suffered a badlybruised right thigh while fielding, made only four before he was caught offhis glove by Sarfraz while attempting to pull a bouncer from Mohammad Abbas.
Hashim Amla was forced to retire hurt on two after being hit on the rightupper arm by a ball from Mohammad Amir which lifted sharply off a goodlength. – APP/AFP
