PAK VS RSA - 1st Test, South Africa tour of Pakistan, 2021

The resolve Pakistan have shown to bounce back from difficult situations in this Test has been admirable. A very uplifting win after the disappointments in New Zealand. As for South Africa, they need to follow in the steps of Markram and van der Dussen and find ways of tackling spin. Some of those dismissals were really soft. That's it from us for now. The next Test is in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Until then, it's goodbye from Sagar Chawla on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Akshay Maanay and Mukesh!

Babar Azam, Pakistan captain: Credit to the players who have worked so hard. Wicket was quite slow. Our plan was to bat first, but we were able to adjust our plans. I spoke at the toss of how important partnerships were. The way Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali revived the innings was so brilliant. Then Nauman Ali and Yasir Shah bowled really well aided by the fast bowlers. South Africa are a quality team, their pacers are very good. The way Nauman Ali played on debut, he showed his first-class experience.

Quinton de Kock, SA captain: Our first innings batting performance (cost us). That was a big factor in losing this game. Don't think we took too long to adjust to the bounce. Was just a matter of us being soft. In the second innings we saw Rassie and Aiden (adjust nicely). Our bowlers bowled really well with great aggression, great accuracy. Pakistan just batted well against us.

Fawad Alam, Player of the Match: Very important knock. Team was 27/4. The better we did in the first innings, the easier it would've been. Pressure is a lot at the international level, especially making a comeback after such a long time. I'm enjoying my time in the dressing room. Pitch had double (variable) bounce, double pace, there were rough patches. But the talk was about applying yourself, going with the flow and not think about what's happening off the pitch. That was my thinking - to apply myself.

So many things to remember this Test for. The start of the captaincy era for Babar Azam. South Africa's first game in Pakistan for close to 14 years. Nauman Ali's five-for on debut. Yasir Shah's spell yesterday and his complete schooling of Faf du Plessis. But one that stands out above the rest is Fawad Alam's hundred in the first innings. It was his knock that hauled Pakistan out of the ruins of 27/4, eventually laying the foundation for a big lead. He can't get back the time he's lost after being left out of the team for 11 years, but if life is about making the most of the chances you get, then he's certainly doing that. Got a hundred in New Zealand, and now has a first hundred at home. Presentations coming up.

14:48 Local Time, 09:48 GMT, 15:18 IST: Fist bumps and handshakes as Pakistan rejoice in the glow of an impressive win in Karachi. No dramas in this run chase, at least none after the two openers threw their wickets away in the first over after lunch. So Babar Azam's captaincy tenure starts off in style. South Africa needed a lot more than 88 to put on a challenge. The pitch, while offering variable bounce mostly against the hard new ball, wasn't a minefield as Aiden Markram and van der Dussen showed yesterday. It was possible to get your head down and grind out the runs. But once their second-wicket stand was broken, the visitors folded against the spin of Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali, losing their last nine wickets for 70 runs. That was the decisive turn in this match which had seen many ebbs and flows until then.

Maharaj to Fawad Alam, FOUR, goes back to a short ball and cuts it away through the covers. Couldn't have been a better player for Pakistan to seal this one than Fawad Alam, on the back of whose hundred they've set up a 1-0 lead

Maharaj to Fawad Alam, no run, quite full on off, Alam squeezes it to midwicket

Maharaj to Fawad Alam, no run, slightly short outside off, but it kicks up on Alam as he looks to cut. Makes the adjustment and steers it to backward point

Maharaj to Fawad Alam, no run, flighted up on off, defends down the pitch

Fawad Alam, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Odds on Fawad Alam stepping out to finish with a six, like he brought up his hundred?

Maharaj to Babar Azam, out Lbw!! Has Maharaj got Azam LBW twice in the Test match? He gets the decision in his favour onfield, but Azam has reviewed. Previous innings he beat him on the inside edge with one sliding on, this time he's gone past the outside edge to hit the back pad. And it's not turning past the off stump, which was the only point of contention. It's crashing into it. Azam departs with Pakistan on the brink of victory. Babar Azam lbw b Maharaj 30(39) [4s-6]

Maharaj to Babar Azam, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Keshav Maharaj [1.0-0-8-0] is back into the attack

Linde to Azhar Ali, no run, good length delivery turning away from off, it's slow through the air from Linde. Azhar Ali's hands go chasing after the ball as he steers it to backward point

Linde to Azhar Ali, no run, drifting in on leg, Azhar Ali defends down the pitch

Linde to Azhar Ali, no run, overpitches slightly, driven to short cover

Linde to Azhar Ali, no run, flighted up on off, Azhar Ali gets forward and defends

Linde to Azhar Ali, no run, nicely bowled. Tosses it up on off and finds a bit of grip. Azhar Ali defends it into the off-side