Brilliant Bosch can do no wrong as Proteas hold the aces at Centurion

First Test, Day 2, Stumps

Pakistan: 211 & 88/3

Ayub 28, Masood 28, Jansen 2/17, Rabada 1/31

South Africa: 301

Markram 89, Bosch 81*, Shazad 3/75, Shah 3/92

Pakistan trail by two runs

Two days into the first Test match of his career and the cloud has not yet been discovered on which Corbin Bosch is residing.

Injuries to seven seam bowlers may have provided the opportunity, but it's another thing altogether to grasp it with both hands in such an emphatic manner the way Bosch has done.

The 30-year-old all-rounder, playing on his home ground and that of his late father former Proteas fast bowler Tertius, may have thought it could not have got any better than a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket and a further three scalps on the opening day.

But with the Proteas seemingly chucking away a potential lead after losing three wickets for 13 runs in the midst of an inspirational Naseem Sham burst, Bosch strode out to the crease for the first time in Test cricket at No 9.

Bad light stops play on Day Two 🚨

Coverage of Day Three will start at 09:30 (CAT) with Pakistan two runs behind the @ProteasMenCSA's first innings score 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🆚![CDATA[]]>🇵![CDATA[]]>🇰#SAvPAK | #SummerOfCricket pic.twitter.com/dhhjxqYZ7j

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 27, 2024

Bosch loves playing at SuperSport Park, and for a shade under two hours it was his little playground.

Despite losing his senior partner Aiden Markram for a splendid 89 (144 balls; 15x4) not long after taking guard, Bosch rallied tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson to form two solid partnerships of 41 and 47 for the ninth and 10th wickets, respectively.

Bosch played with the freedom of someone who knew that he could do no wrong as he drove and pulled ferociously. He also showed good game awareness for a Test rookie by farming the strike very well, especially with last man Paterson, who also entertained with the first maximum of the day.

Each run drove a dagger into the hearts of the Pakistanis as they eventually saw Bosch strike an undefeated 81 (93 balls ; 15x4), which was also the debutant’s career-best first class score.

KG gets his reward 💥![CDATA[]]>💥

📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/bLrpLj0CfO

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 27, 2024

The SuperSport Park crowd cried in anguish when Paterson eventually holed as they were desperately urging Bosch on to what would have been a remarkable maiden Test century. But he had done his job for the team as the Proteas edged upwards to 301 for an invaluable 90-run first innings lead.

The currency of the lead increased in the afternoon session despite Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Saim Ayub putting together another good 49-run opening stand in just 10.3 overs. But with both openers departing for the identical score of 28 with Kagiso Rabada finally getting his reward for the outstanding spells he’s delivered and Marco Jansen also coming to the party after an indifferent first innings, Pakistan were 70/2.

This quickly became 74/3 when Kamran Ghulam edged Jansen to gully where Ryan Rickleton took a brilliant diving catch low to the ground.

Babar Azam (16*) and Saud Shakeel (8*) ensured there were no further alarms before bad light brought an early close to the second day, but the visitors still trail the Proteas by two runs with only seven wickets remaining.  |  Independent Media Sport