Pakistan captain Babar Azam hailed Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali for their brilliant batting performances after the hosts won the first Test by 7 wickets against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday (January 29) to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-Test series.
He also applauded Nauman Ali for his stellar bowling on his Test debut as the 34-year-old slow left-armer finished with 7 wickets to play a crucial role in Pakistan’s 7-wicket win over South Africa.
Before Nauman’s heroics with the ball, Fawad and Azhar scored a brilliant hundred and fifty respectively to help Pakistan take a 158-run lead in the first innings against South Africa on Wednesday.
South Africa failed to build on after showing some fight on Day 3 with the bat, as they folded for 245 on Day 4, with the Test debutant Nauman claiming five for 35 in 25.3 overs to hand Pakistan an easy target of 88 to win the first Test in Karachi.
With his five-wicket haul, Nauman became the oldest Pakistan cricketer to claim fifer in his first international game and Babar said it was the result of his vast first-class experience.
Chasing the target of 88, Pakistan openers Imran Butt and Abid Ali started playing safely since there was no big pressure on them before being dismissed by Anrich Nortje for 12 and 10 respectively. Then, Azhar (31*) and Babar (33) took the charge to take Pakistan over the line at the expense of 3 wickets in Karachi as they took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against South Africa.
Azam said after the first Test: “Credit to the players, who have worked so hard. Wicket was quite slow. Our plan was to bat first, but we were able to adjust our plans. I spoke at the toss of how important partnerships were. The way Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali revived the innings was so brilliant.”
Hailing Nauman, the Pakistan captain said: “Then Nauman Ali and Yasir Shah bowled really well aided by the fast bowlers. South Africa is a quality team, their pacers are very good. The way Nauman Ali played on debut, he showed his first-class experience.”
Noteworthy, the second and final Test will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from February 4 – which will be followed by a three-match T20I series starting February 11.
(With ANI Inputs)
