Fri Dec 27 11:50:00 UTC 2024: ## South Africa Fight Back, Trail Pakistan by 31 Runs at Lunch on Day 2
**Centurion, South Africa:** South Africa closed the first session of Day 2 in the first Test against Pakistan trailing by only 31 runs, erasing a significant portion of Pakistan’s first-innings total. Aiden Markram anchored the South African response, reaching 81 not out at lunch, continuing his strong overnight start.
The hosts reached 180 for 5 at the lunch break, having added 98 runs in the session. However, the session wasn’t without its challenges. Pakistan managed to claim the key wickets of Temba Bavuma (31) and David Bedingham, interrupting a promising partnership between Markram and Bavuma which yielded 70 runs. Bavuma fell to Aamer Jamal, while Bedingham was caught at first slip after a loose shot.
Pakistan’s bowling was inconsistent. Early in the session, they gifted runs with wayward deliveries, allowing Markram and Bavuma to score freely. While Mohammad Abbas posed some threat, inducing edges and troubling Bavuma, the overall bowling lacked consistency, particularly from Naseem Shah and Aamer Jamal, allowing South Africa to regularly find the boundary. Pakistan also wasted a review on a leg-before-wicket appeal.
The slow over-rate continued to be a concern, with only 24 overs bowled in the session following a similarly slow Day 1. This follows a pattern of slow over rates in the match so far. The match remains closely contested, with South Africa looking to push for parity or even take a lead in the second session.
First Piper 