CENTURION: Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood expressed pride in his team's resilience despite a narrow two-wicket defeat to South Africa in the opening Test at Supersport Park on Sunday.
Speaking during the post-match presentation, Masood lauded the team's efforts but emphasized the need to capitalize on crucial moments.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort, but I believe we need to be more ruthless moving forward. We had them by the scruff of their necks but couldn’t fully capitalize,” Masood stated.
He praised standout performances by Mohammad Abbas, who claimed an impressive six-wicket haul and Saud Shakeel whose vital knock in the second innings nearly turned the game in Pakistan's favor.
“Test cricket gives you a bit of a cushion, but you have to seize the moments. Abbas was sensational, and Saud came close to what would have been a fine century if he had support at the other end. You learn from these experiences and move on,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets in a dramatic contest that saw fluctuating fortunes.
Chasing a modest 148, the hosts were in trouble at 99/6, but a gritty 51-run partnership between Kagiso Rabada (33*) and Marco Jansen (20*) saw them home.
Earlier, Aiden Markram (37) and Temba Bavuma (40) had steadied the innings with a 43-run stand after South Africa resumed at 27/3.
Abbas’s brilliant 6/54 had put Pakistan on the brink of victory, with Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad chipping in with a wicket each.
With this victory, South Africa climbed to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 points table with a points percentage of 66.67%.
Their win also secured qualification for the WTC final, showcasing their dominance in red-ball cricket.
For the unversed, the second and final Test match of the series will take place in Cape Town from January 3-7, 2025.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.
