Olivier, Amla, Elgar shine as South Africa go 1-0 up
Set 149 for victory, the home side got there before tea on the third day to take an early lead in the three-Test series
26/12Result
1st Test, Pakistan tour of South Africa at Centurion, Dec 26-28 2018
-
![Pakistan]( "Pakistan")
181 & 190 -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
223 & 151/4 (50.4 ov)
Player of the Match
26/12Result
1st Test, Pakistan tour of South Africa at Centurion, Dec 26-28 2018
-
![Pakistan]( "Pakistan")
181 & 190 -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
223 & 151/4 (50.4 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 3
Azhar took a 'clean' catch, on-field decision should have stayed - Sarfraz
The Pakistan captain drew parallel with the catch that dismissed Virat Kohli in Perth, even as the coach Mickey Arthur got one demerit point for 'showing dissent'
'They should triple my salary' - Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar says opening the batting in South Africa is the toughest job in Test cricket but that is also what makes it the most satisfying
Sarfraz laments "mental challenges" of pressure in second innings
Pakistan's captain said the responsibility to turn things around rested with everyone, including the coaching staff, for a problem that's been recurring for the past two years
Arthur gives Pakistan's seniors dressing-room dressing down
Coach's focus on the 'soft dismissals' of Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, with talk emerging of 'big changes' in the next Test
Amla exhibits his version of "ProteaFire"
He was doggedly resistant while he couldn't find his touch, and devastatingly effective as it returned to him
Day 2
South Africa to chase 149 after Olivier takes 11
Pakistan imploded from 101 for 1 to 190 all out on the second day, with the home team's pacers inducing a post-tea collapse
Will the real Pakistan middle-order please stand up?
The trio of Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed has been parched for substantial runs since MisYou, collectively managing 1838 runs at 31.15 in the period
Day 1
Steyn record lights up bowlers' day out
Pakistan fought back after being bowled out for 181, reducing South Africa to 127 for 5 at stumps
Olivier, South Africa's 'other bowler' who stole the show
There was doubt whether he could fill the shoes of Vernon Philander. By tea on Boxing Day, when the 26-year old had taken six wickets, it all but disappeared
Steyn surpasses Pollock to become South Africa's top wicket-taker
It took 19 balls on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at Centurion for Steyn to achieve the landmark
The Steyn v Pollock comparison
Dale Steyn has clearly been a bigger force as a strike bowler, but Shaun Pollock is still in front in terms of Man-of-the-Match awards in Tests
Reactions - 'The coolest surfing, fishing, skateboarding fast bowler on the planet'
How Dale Steyn's former team-mates and adversaries reacted to him going past Shaun Pollock's South African Test wickets record
Injury blow for Pakistan as Haris out, Masood in
The Pakistan team management confirmed to ESPNcricinfo the change would have to be made just 90 minutes ahead of the scheduled start in Centurion
Others
What are the worst match figures on the honours board at Lord's?
And how many times have both captains bagged pairs in the same Test?
'Have seen happier dressing rooms than Pakistan's currently' - Flower
The batting coach spoke about Pakistan batsmen's shot selection, the pressure their captain is under and how the players need to adapt
Du Plessis backs 'rock' Amla to come good
In the last 10 Tests, Hashim Amla has averaged just 23, less than half his career average of 47, but he still has the backing of his captain
The age of Babar begins
The 24-year old is no longer just a white-ball cricketer and aims to prove that against Dale Steyn and company
'I feel like I'm 23' - Dale Steyn
The 35-year old says he has bigger goals beyond the long-awaited feat of becoming South Africa's most successful Test bowler
Mohammad Abbas ruled out of Centurion Test
The fast bowler is yet to fully recover from his shoulder injury. Shadab Khan is out too, but Fakhar Zaman is fit to play
'World-class' Yasir Shah gives Pakistan an advantage - Sarfraz Ahmed
The conditions are expected to favour the seamers, but Pakistan's captain has singled out his legspinner as a potent threat to South Africa's batsmen
Chasing history, Pakistan seek batting solidity against Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada
Having arrived with a strong bowling attack, this could be Pakistan's best-ever chance to finally win a Test series in South Africa
