It's on us to find ways to be better, says Proteas captain

IT is a long way back for the world Test champion Proteas from here.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The size of their defeat to Pakistan in the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, by 93 runs, does not tell the full story.

For all their gumption of staying in the fight for as long as they did, there were only three individual batters - opener Ryan Rickelton twice - that passed 20 runs in both innings.

The rest showed neither technique nor pluck and determination to see it through against the high-quality spin offered by Noman Ali and his excitable sidekick Sajid Khan, who claimed 15 of the 20 Proteas wickets to fall over the course of the three and half days.

Worryingly, they may also have allowed a resurgent Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl himself back into form with four cheap second innings wickets, which will provide an altogether different challenge in Rawalpindi next week.

So, how exactly will the tourists look to bounce back after having their 10-match unbeaten run brought to a screeching halt?

"It's one thing, us as a team, we pride ourselves on never throwing in the towel, never giving up," said stand-in captain Aiden Markram.