Maharaj urges calm after Proteas rue missed chances

KESHAV Maharaj acknowledged the Proteas were disappointed to have dropped four catches but refused to apportion blame after the tourists had to settle for limiting Pakistan to 259/5 on an opening day of the second Test.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Captain Shan Masood led the way for the hosts in Rawalpindi scoring 87, with opener Abdullah Shafique grinding out 57 and Saud Shakeel still there on 42 along with Salman Agha.

Maharaj and fellow spinner Simon Harmer took two wickets apiece and Kagiso Rabada one late in the day with the second new ball, but it could have been better for the tourists had a collection of chances not been put down in the morning and afternoon sessions.

It started with the luckless Tristan Stubbs putting down a straightforward catch at slip off the fourth ball of the morning, then Maharaj himself failed to cling on to a half-chance off his own bowling before captain Aiden Markram put down the simplest of opportunities at first slip.

Abdullah Shafique was the fortunate batter on each occasion.

It did not stop there, unfortunately, for the Proteas with wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne also missing a sharp stumping chance, while Senuran Muthusamy stumbled and fell at square-leg in his attempt to get under a Shan Masood top edge.