Twitter reactions: South Africa takes charge over Pakistan as Corbin Bosch delivers a stellar performance on Day 2 of Centurion Test

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South Africa’s rising star, Corbin Bosch, delivered a breathtaking debut performance to seize control of the first Test of the two-game series against Pakistan at SuperSport Park. Bosch, batting at No. 9, played a pivotal role with an unbeaten 81 off 93 balls, marking the highest score ever by a debutant at that position in Test cricket. His innings transformed South Africa’s modest lead into a commanding 90-run advantage, as the hosts were bowled out for 301 in response to Pakistan’s 211.

Corbin Bosch’s heroics on debut propel South Africa to dominance

Bosch’s innings was laced with 15 exquisite boundaries, showcasing his ability to combine technical precision with aggressive intent. His remarkable knock came under immense pressure after the team had lost wickets in quick succession, leaving the innings precariously placed at 213-8. The match swung decisively in South Africa’s favor, thanks to Bosch’s partnerships with the lower order. He first added 41 runs alongside Kagiso Rabada (13), steadying the ship after a mid-innings collapse, and then extended the lead further with a 47-run stand with last man Dane Paterson (12).

Bosch batted with flair and confidence, displaying a wide range of strokes that left the Pakistan bowlers visibly frustrated. His ability to find gaps with precision cover drives and pull shots underlined his batting prowess. Despite being a fast bowler, Bosch’s first-class batting average of over 40 proved he was more than capable of stepping up in a critical situation. Bosch’s bowling contributions were equally impactful, as he finished with impressive first-innings figures of 4/63. His fiery pace and accuracy troubled the Pakistan batters throughout their innings.

Pakistan stumbles in the face of South Africa’s lead

South Africa’s bowlers built on Bosch’s heroics by putting Pakistan under immense pressure in their second innings. By the close of play on Day 2, the visitors were struggling at 88/3, still trailing by two runs. The opening pair of Saim Ayub (28) and captain Shan Masood (28) provided a positive start, counterattacking South Africa’s formidable pace attack with a 49-run opening stand. However, Pakistan’s progress was derailed as they lost three wickets for just 25 runs under deteriorating light conditions. Kagiso Rabada provided the breakthrough, dismissing Ayub with a searing delivery that knocked back his off stump.

Marco Jansen further tightened South Africa’s grip by removing Masood and first-innings top-scorer Kamran Ghulam (8) in quick succession. Jansen exploited the gloomy conditions brilliantly, finding the outside edges of both batters with well-directed deliveries to slip and gully, respectively. Pakistan’s hopes now rest on Babar Azam (16 not out) and Saud Shakeel (8 not out), who showed some resistance before bad light brought an early end to the day’s play. With South Africa’s bowlers maintaining relentless pressure, the visitors face a daunting task to regain parity in the match.

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South Africa recovers after middle-order collapse

Earlier, South Africa’s strong position came after overcoming a troubling collapse in their first innings. The team was cruising at 178/4 when a fiery spell from Naseem Shah triggered a dramatic slide, reducing them to 213/8. Naseem bowled a marathon 10-over spell, claiming three crucial wickets, including the prized scalp of opener Aiden Markram, who top-scored with a fluent 89. Markram missed out on what would have been his eighth Test century, edging a leg-side delivery from Khurram Shahzad to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. His dismissal left South Africa’s middle order vulnerable, with captain Temba Bavuma (31) and David Bedingham (30) also failing to convert their starts.

Bavuma and Markram had earlier stabilized the innings with a 70-run fourth-wicket stand. However, Bavuma’s dismissal, edging a length ball from Aamer Jamal, opened the floodgates for Pakistan’s bowlers. Bedingham briefly counterattacked, smashing five boundaries in his 33-ball knock, but Naseem’s extra bounce proved too difficult to handle as Bedingham nicked a sharp delivery to first slip just before lunch. South Africa’s collapse seemed to hand the momentum back to Pakistan until Bosch’s late-order heroics turned the tide in dramatic fashion.

Bosch’s counterattack, along with Paterson’s resilient batting, not only extended the lead but also demoralized Pakistan’s bowling attack. Paterson showcased his own batting abilities, hitting a straight six off the returning Mohammad Abbas (1/79), who was making his comeback after three years. Although Bosch fell short of what could have been a memorable debut century, his contribution ensured South Africa entered Pakistan’s second innings with momentum firmly on their side.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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