Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis solid after Pakistan punctuate brisk start

South Africa will take confidence from the fact this wasn’t a session Pakistan’s bowlers threatened to overwhelm them

Lunch South Africa 94 for 2 (Elgar 46*, du Plessis 14*) vs Pakistan

The tactical battles of a Test match are often compared to chess, and the opening moves in Karachi signalled a balanced game so far. South Africa began on the front foot after winning the toss and opting to bat, with an obvious plan not to let Pakistan’s bowlers bog them down. While the runs flowed relatively freely, Pakistan did strike back with a couple of wickets that pegged the visitors back somewhat. Each side can enjoy lunch with the satisfaction that the plans they developed were executed effectively, but 94 for 2 after one session means this is a Test match not yet ready to show its hand.

It looked like South Africa had bought Pakistan’s line about this being a series dominated by spin as they prepared to field three spinners. That Tabraiz Shamsi pulled up because of back spasms just before the toss might end up being a blessing in disguise. It meant both sides went into the game with three seamers and two spinners.

Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram welcomed Hasan Ali back to Test cricket with five fours in his first two overs to send South Africa off to a breezy start. That approach, though refreshingly entertaining, was punctuated by a couple of wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi got one to seam away from Markram, with debutant Imran Butt diving to his left at second slip to pouch the edge.

The wicket didn’t stymie South Africa much, with Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen keeping the scoreboard ticking as the bowlers struggled to make an impact. Well into the second hour, the batsmen had the edge before a moment of self-destruction handed Pakistan a wicket that might as well have been gift-wrapped with a bow on it. van der Dussen set off for a single Elgar hadn’t agreed to, and with the non-striker only turning him down after he was halfway down the pitch, Mohammad Rizwan effected the run-out.

That dried up the runs in the final third of the session, though South Africa will take confidence from the fact this wasn’t a session Pakistan’s bowlers threatened to overwhelm them. Pakistan may find they need to put in a better shift post-lunch, or South Africa might feel today could end up being a fruitful day to start the tour.