Pakistan team slip after good start

The visiting Pakistan suffered a failure after a century opening partnership on the starting day of their four-day game against a South African Invitation XI at Buffalo Park on Friday. The visitors were 178 for 6 at the close on a day reduced by rain and bad light.

Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed put on 105 for the 1st wicket but the Pakistanis then lost 6 wickets for the addition of 40 runs. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and quick bowler Umar Gul added an unbeaten 33 for the in 7th wicket.

Mohammad Hafeez made 55 off 95 balls with 10 fours before he was dismissed by opening bowler Kyle Abbott. But the batsmen who followed were not able to benefit from the good start in their only warm-up game before 3 Test matches against South Africa.