From Babar's gritty knock to Noman's 10-fer: Key takeaways as PAK demolish SA in 1st Test

Key takeaways from PAK Vs SA [Source: AFP Photo]

As expected, Pakistan demolished South Africa in the first Test of the series to take a 1-0 lead. Throughout the four days of play, the hosts dominated the proceedings as the WTC champions were dismantled by the Pakistan spinners, who won the contest by 93 runs. This was captain, Shan Masood’s fourth win as Test skipper in 13 attempts.

Throughout the game, there were some interesting moments, and while Pakistan had the game in the palm of its hands, the Proteas, too, had their moments. In this piece, we jot down the major takeaways from Pakistan’s emphatic win.

1) Noman, the man for Pakistan

The Pakistan side prepared a spinning track to trap the Proteas batters, and the plan worked to perfection as Noman Ali, the wily left-arm spinner, spun his web and picked up a 10-wicket haul to inflict a crushing defeat. He scalped a. 6-fer in the first innings, and followed it up with a match-winning 4-fer as South Africa had no answer against him.

(Noman Ali vs South Africa)

Ever since Pakistan started to dish out turning wickets, Noman has been the main man for the hosts. He dismantled England at home last year, and then troubled the West Indian side before showcasing match-winning ability against South Africa.

2) Babar's crucial 42 played a huge part in PAK win

Babar Azam scored just 23 runs in the first innings of the Test, and was under pressure to score big in the second innings. In the second innings, the star batter could only score 42 runs, but it played a major role in Pakistan’s triumphal win.

Pakistan's batting lineup crumbled under pressure in the second innings, and had it not been for a gritty 42 from Babar, they would have been bundled out a bit too early, which would have given the Proteas a small window of opportunity to chase down the total.

3) South Africa - learn the art of playing spin

The South Africans are excellent players of pace bowling, but they tend to struggle in subcontinent conditions that offer spinning wickets. Against Pakistan, they were a bit too timid in their approach as Noman Ali ran riot. In the first innings, they got all out for 269, and while chasing, the team crumbled for 189.

In WTC, every single win matters, and the Rainbow nation still has a game to be played in the series. Moreover, after Pakistan, they will travel to India, and the side will once again have to counter the same issue. Hence, the side needs to reflect and needs to hone their spin-playing skills.

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