• Safe-hands Sarfaraz shatters records

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    Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed features again in our Play of the Day, but this time it’s his work with the gloves that has him smashing wicketkeeping records in the Test series against South Africa, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.

    Sarfaraz has had a hot-and-cold series in South Africa with the bat, but behind the stumps Pakistan’s captain has been ever-reliable as he picked up 19 dismissals in the three-match Test series, topped off with a record-breaking 10 catches during the third Test at the Wanderers.

    READ MORE: Sarfaraz takes the attack to SA

    Pakistan’s captain picked up five catches in the Proteas’ first innings at the Bullring to break Moin Khan’s previous record of four catches in an innings against South Africa, which was set at the same venue in the 1994-95 season.

    He then repeated the feat in the second innings to bag a sensational 10 catches in the match – eclipsing Pakistan’s all-time record of nine dismissals by a wicketkeeper shared by Rashid Latif (New Zealand 1993-94) and Kamran Akmal (West Indies 2004-05).

    The 10 catches, added to his previous nine dismissals (8 catches, 1 stumping) during the first two Tests also takes him to 19 dismissals in a series – which shattered Kamran Akmal’s previous record of 11 in a series against South Africa, and just pipped Rashid Latif’s all-time Pakistan record of 18 dismissals in a series.

    The Pakistani fielders have drawn plenty of praise for their work in the outfield and have been dramatically led by the ever-demanding Sarfaraz in this regard, the skipper having set the standard for the rest to follow.

    Pakistan bowled out South Africa for 303 in the second innings and have been set a mammoth 381-run target to win. They will resume on Monday on 153-3 with Asad Shafiq (48) and Babar Azam (17) at the crease as they look to chip away at the 228-run deficit.

    Scorecard

    Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images

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    Anitha Madikizela