Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje hand South Africa early advantage

Babar Azam and Fawad Alam steadied the hosts after they lost three wickets for just one run

Keshav Maharaj took two wickets in 10 balls as South Africa claimed three wickets for one race to leave Pakistan reeling after they chose for bat first in Rawalpindi. Regardless of talk that the pitch would suit seamers, early signs demonstrated that the dry surface turned more than Karachi and South Africa's forefront spinner delighted in early achievement. 

Maharaj is just the second South African spinner to take two wickets in the initial 15 overs of a Test, after Reggie Schwartz in 1906, and he might have asserted one as ahead of schedule as his first ball. At the point when he was brought into the assault in the eighth over, Maharaj promptly had Imran Butt squeezing forward to guard a ball that dismissed and took the edge however Temba Bavuma, from the outset slip, put it down. 

The let off didn't help Pakistan however, as Butt and Abid Ali amassed just 21 preceding Maharaj had Butt gotten behind. Their most noteworthy opening stand so far remaining parts 22. In his next finished, Maharaj had Azhar Ali safeguarding for betray a ball that went straight on and was out lbw for a duck. 

It was not all turn however. Anrich Nortje, who conveyed a seven-over spell with great aim, excused Abid because of a shocking catch by Aiden Markram at short leg. Nortje calculated the ball into Abid's body at abdomen stature and his endeavor to flick it to fine leg transformed into an inside-edge. Markam needed to jump low to his entitlement to finish the catch and he did, leaving Pakistan on 22 for 3 with Babar Azam and Fawad Alam at this point to score a run. 

Babar returned to-ease limits off Maharaj, who excused him in the two innings in Karachi, and Fawad flicked Nortje for four and with those three limits of three balls, the pair's plan to settle Pakistan was clear. However, it was not without its nerves. Fawad was fixed by departure from Linde and missed a drive as the ball conveyed to slip, and attempted another flourishing drive off Maharaj and was beaten. In the middle of that, they struck some sure limits and with Babar beginning to release the drive, South Africa will be careful about allowing him to move away particularly as they might be a bowler down. 

George Linde left the field in the 23rd over, with a ball to astound in his third, with what seemed, by all accounts, to be a physical issue to the little finger on his left hand. He was found in the changeroom on the physiotherapist's bed, glancing in some agony. Senior member Elgar, additionally lethargic left arm, finished the over and bowled one more, with allrounder Wiaan Mulder yet to show up with the ball.