“We need to learn how to land the first punch”: Shan Masood reacts to Pakistan’s Test series defeat against South Africa
Pakistan started the day on 213-1 and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad frustrated South Africa in the morning before Marco Jansen had him caught at point on 18. Jansen came close to also dismissing Kamran Ghulam without scoring in the same over but Bedingham missed an easy catch at first slip.
Ghulam hit four boundaries in a 28 but was undone by Kagiso Rabada off a delivery that just came back enough to hit the off stump as the batter attempted a loose drive and missed the line of the ball.
The Proteas took the new ball after lunch and struck twice in the next two overs.
Rabada found the outside edge of Saud Shakeel on 23 and the left-hander was caught in the slips, then South Africa got the big wicket of Shan Masood. A successful lbw referral showed Maphaka’s sharp delivery hit the Pakistan captain on the front pad.
Masood helped to narrow the deficit to 109 but Pakistan was five wickets down with only four wickets left.
Salman Ali Agha (48) and Mohammad Rizwan (41) survived close lbw reviews early in their innings before spinner Keshav Maharaj, who bowled long spells on Monday, dismissed both batters.
No. 9 batter Mir Hamza (16) smashed Rabada for a straight six before he was the last man out, top-edging the pacer, who finished with 3-115.
Maharaj (3-137) and Jansen (2-101) also helped as the South Africa bowlers had to grind out 122.1 overs.
Bedingham opened the batting for the Proteas in the absence of the injured Rickelton and hit an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
“With (our) backs against the wall we did well,” Masood said. “We didn’t start off well and conceded too many runs initially, then we folded with the bat on a really nice surface. We need to learn how to land the first punch.”
Pakistan next plays against the West Indies in a two-test series starting in Multan on Jan. 17.
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