Bosch and Markram Guide South Africa to 301, Extending Lead to 90 Runs
After a stellar four-wicket debut on Day 1, Corbin Bosch followed up with an unbeaten 81*, while Aiden Markram's composed 89 helped South Africa post 301 at Tea on Day 2 in Centurion, taking a 90-run lead. Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah both claimed three wickets, but the hosts fought back strongly.
Naseem, after a slower first session, found his rhythm in the second, clocking over 140 kmph. Pakistan made early breakthroughs after Lunch, with Kyle Verreynne edging behind and Jansen falling to a loose shot. Bosch, however, counter-attacked, driving boundaries off Shahzad and Naseem, while Markram played solidly until falling just 11 runs short of a century.
Pakistan’s frustration mounted as they burned a review, and Bosch continued to pile on the pressure, scoring freely and reaching a half-century on debut. He became the first South African to claim a four-wicket haul and score 50+ on his Test debut. Bosch, alongside Dane Paterson, added valuable runs, lifting the team past the 300 mark before Paterson was dismissed just before Tea.
