Pakistan v South Africa, Rawalpindi - 1997-98 by Muhammad Asim

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Scorecard:

Pakistan v South Africa

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This Test though ended in a draw but will be remembered for the superb show by the two debutants. Ali Naqvi (115) and Azhar Mahmood (128*) provided the first instance in the annals of Test cricket when two debutants scored century apiece in the same innings of the match. Naqvi, who came in the match without any reputation, faced 270 balls during his 350-minute knock, out of which 14 were converted into boundaries with most being perfectly executed and from the middle of the willow. Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed put together 151 runs for the last wicket to equal the world record for this wicket. Pakistan at one stage were struggling at 231-8 when Azhar first in company of Waqar and then Mushtaq nearly doubled the score. Pakistan scored a mammoth 456 in their first innings before Pakistan dismissing South Africa for 403 to snatch a 53-run first innings lead. Mahmood followed up his first innings contribution with an undefeated 50 in the second inning. He became the first Pakistani to score a century and a half century on his debut. For this superb effort, he was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Muhammad Asim email:wordswordsandwords@hotmail.com)