Proteas captain Aiden Markram congratulates Tony de Zorzi on his superb catch. Picture: AFP
Image: AFP
“It’s a plague.”
That’s how former Pakistan opener and commentator described the Proteas’ woeful catching in the second session of the second Test in Rawalpindi on Monday.
The disease started in the morning and spread into the afternoon with Aiden Markram and Senuran Muthusamy joining Tristan Stubbs and Keshav Maharaj in dropping catches. Wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne was also not free from foul as he missed a regulation stumping too.
But sandwiched between the mess was also a brilliant one-handed take from Tony de Zorzi, who scooped the ball just inches above the turf to send Pakistan’s premier batter Babar Azam on his way.
This provided the Proteas with some relief for their carelessness allowed Pakistan to push on to 146 before Abdullah Shafique’s luck finally ran out.
Shafique was the beneficiary of Stubbs, Maharaj, Markram and Verreynne’s generosity. Umpire Chris Brown seemed also to offer Shafique a reprieve when he edged Simon Harmer down the leg-side into Verryenne’s gloves, but the Proteas successfully reviewed the decision to finally break the 111-run second wicket partnership. Shafique departed for 57 (146 balls, 4x4).
The Proteas should have had more success shortly afterwards when Pakistan captain Shan Masood top-edged Maharaj to square-leg, but a sprawling Senuran Muthusamy could not hold on to the chance.
Fortunately for the visitors, De Zorzi brought his catching gloves with to pull off a stunner that silenced the strong home support to send Babar (16) back to the pavilion in silence.
Masood remained unbeaten on 77 at the tea interval.
Second Test, Day 2, Tea
Pakistan 177/3 (Shafique 57, Shan Masood 77*, Harmer 2/57, Maharaj 1/48)
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat
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