Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Asif Afridi, 38, Becomes Oldest Bowler to Take Five on Test Debut as South Africa Slip in Rawalpindi

A spin-first selection on a dry Rawalpindi surface paid off, with Afridi's control turning the contest.

Overview

  • The left-arm spinner finished with 5-61, sealing the landmark by trapping Simon Harmer lbw after earlier removing Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.
  • South Africa reached 285-8 at lunch on Day 3, still 48 runs behind Pakistan's 333, as Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj added a fighting 50 for the ninth wicket with multiple reprieves.
  • Pakistan’s first-innings 333 was built on top-order runs before Keshav Maharaj’s 7-102 triggered a collapse from 316-5 to all out.
  • Pakistan lead the two-match series 1-0 and are pursuing a series-clinching result after Afridi shifted momentum from South Africa’s 167-2 position.
  • Outlets confirm Afridi as the oldest to take a debut five-for, though benchmarks cited vary between Charles Marriott’s 1933 mark and other lists, and his age is reported as 38 years 299 or 301 days; several reports also note his prior PCB suspension for disciplinary breaches.