RAWALPINDI: Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi created history on Wednesday by becoming the oldest player to take a five-for on debut during the second Test against South Africa.
At 38 years and 299 days, Afridi surpassed England’s Charles Marriott, who since 1933 held the record as the oldest cricketer to take a haul of five wickets on his Test debut.
Only four players over the age of 35 have claimed a five-wicket haul on debut in Test history. Besides Afridi and Marriott, the two others on the list are Hines Johnson of the West Indies, who did this against England in 1948, and DW Carr of England, who achieved the milestone against Australia in 1909.
Afridi is the only player to achieve this feat after turning 38, while the other three did so after he passed 37.
Among Pakistani bowlers, Noman Ali had earlier taken five wickets on debut at the age of 34 against South Africa in 2021. Bilal Asif achieved this feat at the age of 33.
Pakistan ended day three of the second Test at 94/4 in 35 overs and had a lead of 23 runs.
The hosts will resume their batting on day four with Babar Azam on 49 off 83 balls and Mohammad Rizwan on 16 off 49.
Earlier, South Africa’s lower order fought back strongly, with Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada leading a spirited recovery.
At one point the visitors were 235-8 but the trio helped South Africa reach 404 and take a first innings lead of 71 runs.
