Twitter Reactions: Pace Quartet and Markram put South Africa in the driver’s seat

Both Pakistan and South Africa decided to make one change each in the eleven ahead of the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town. Even as Sarfraz Ahmed and Co included pacer Mohammad Abbas in place of Hasan Ali, the hosts replaced spinner Keshav Maharaj with Vernon Philander. By the close of play on the first day, the Proteas are trailing by 54 runs with eight wickets left after bowling Pakistan out cheaply.

Pakistan batting capitulate

After winning the toss and electing to field first, their pace-trio, involving Duanne Olivier, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada shot the visitors out for 177. At one point in time, Pakistan were reeling at 54/5, but a partnership of 60 between Shan Masood and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed injected some momentum into the innings. Rabada dismissed Masood for 44 to break the ominous-looking stand.

Sarfraz, after bagging a pair in Centurion, accomplished a half-century. The wicketkeeper-batsman went on to score 56 runs from 81 balls. Mohammad Amir also showed resistance lower down the batting order and churned out 22 valuable runs. From the Proteas’ perspective, Olivier was the standout bowler with four wickets. Steyn, Rabada and Philander picked up three, two and one wickets respectively.

Markram dictates terms

Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar took South Africa off to a healthy start with an opening stand of 56 runs. Amir gave his something to cheer for, dismissing Elgar for 20 runs. Nevertheless, Hashim Amla joined Markram in the middle and the duo put their heads down to stave off the Pakistan pace-battery. Markram didn’t die wondering during his stay in the middle and brought up his fifty in just 64 balls.

Amla, on the other hand, looked solid as well and he remained not out on 24 runs from 54 balls and would be hoping to convert the start into a big one. However, Markram couldn’t survive the day and perished to past-time medium pacer Shan Masood in the last ball of the day. The ball kept low and crashed into the stumps and Markram had to walk back after scoring 78 runs from 96 deliveries.

Here is how Twitter reacted on the day’s play

Steyn + Philander + Rabada + Olivier = Pakistan all out 177. Cant blame Pak too much, can you?#QualityAttack#SAvsPAK

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 3, 2019

Oh dear!!! Markram was on song. That was unfortunate. But well played @AidzMarkram #SAvPAK

— Terence🇿🇦Mthembu (@Terrypedia) January 3, 2019

So unlucky Aiden Markram. Got out on the last ball of the day and also in very unconventional way. Ball came back a yard and also kept low 👇.#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/BAvUaOEFTZ

— Ahmer Najeeb (@AhmerNajeeb) January 3, 2019

KP, right before the final ball of the day said that "you don't want to play a part timer at the end of the day. No matter how good you've been the whole day."
Markaram bowled out on the last ball of the day.#SAvPAK

— Danish (@danex_22) January 3, 2019

Markram is bowled by Masood off the last ball of the day.💔💔#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/2Dd6MHBeHw

— Obakeng Van Dyk (@ObakengvanDyk) January 3, 2019

Love Batting style of @AidzMarkram , Just Stylish Player some Kohli in him 🔥 #aiden #NZvSL #SavPak #AUSVIND

— Rahul More (@rahulm66) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram is on top of his game and compliments today's game#Cricket #SAvPAK #ProteaFire

— LXXVIII (@OnlyThato) January 3, 2019

This Aiden Markram fella looks a solid player. #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/wOlzRyqmQC

— Mr Frodo (@silentnoyse) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram doing this batting thing so beautifully and phenomenally! Lovely to watch! #SAvPAK

— #FreshBreakfast (StreetTeam) (@dineo_mpala) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!

— Mohammed Ibrahim Farooqui (@iBM1105) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram 👏#SAvPAK

— Tweeterist (@Tweeterist_) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram back in form with a blasting half century with 12 fours. Hope he can convert this into a century. #SAvPAK

— Induneshan sachu (@induneshan) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram taking the game away from Pakistan. He is on song today. Magnificent show against the quality pace bowling. #SAvPAK

— Mahinwal (@itsmahinwal) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram was in bad form since Johannesburg Test in January 2018!

Then he met Pakistan's best bowler Abbas! Rest is back to form! Keep going Markram 💗#SAvPAK

— Vijayendra Kosigi (@kosigi_vijay11) January 3, 2019

A near-perfect half century by @AidenMarkram He gave no chances, and played with ease. He often goes big, scoring at a good rate. #SAvPAK #proteafire

— Adrian Ephraim (@AdrianEphraim) January 3, 2019

Aiden Markram opened the inns for South Africa in U19 WC Final 2014 and Imam-ul-Haq did for Pakistan. Since then Markram's developed himself into a world-class batsman while Imam is still struggling. Rabada played in the same WC and today has 159 Test wickets at 21.50. #RSAvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 3, 2019

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