CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — Fast bowler Corbin Bosch made a dream Test debut with a wicket on his first ball, giving South Africa a perfect start to the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan on Thursday.

Bosch lured Pakistan captain Shan Masood (17) into playing a losing drive and sent him into a tailspin as Pakistan reached 88-4 at lunch on a seamer-friendly pitch at SuperSport Park, losing four wickets for 20 runs.

Bosch became the fifth South African bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, after Bert Vogler, Dane Piedt, Hardu Viljoen and Tshepo Moreki.

Kamran Ghulam was unbeaten on 23, including a top-edge six over the wicketkeeper’s head off Bosch, and Mohammad Rizwan was not out on 10 at the break.

Masood and opening partner Saim Ayub (14) had thwarted the pace threat of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the first hour after captain Temba Bavuma won the toss under cloudy skies and elected to field.

But Bosch’s breakthrough saw Pakistan’s top order collapse against the pace as Dane Paterson took advantage of chances from Ayub and Babar Azam (4).

Babar, who missed the last two Test matches at home against England, has struggled in red-ball cricket for a long time. His troubles continued as he hit Bosch to reach the first ball he faced, before playing loosely to Paterson and falling into slip after just 11 balls.

Left-hander Saud Shakeel (14) hit three fours against Paterson before Bosch had him caught on the leg side on a sharp short-pitch ball after South Africa had successfully completed a televised review.

Both teams filled their playing elevens with four fast bowlers each and were without a specialist spinner at a venue where pace has prevailed over the last six years.

South Africa, who top the World Test Championship points table, need a win in either Test match against Pakistan to book a place in next June’s final at Lord’s.

Pakistan, who finished seventh, included fast bowlers Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas and Aamer Jamal in their team.

Abbas made a comeback to Test cricket after more than three years, while Naseem returned after missing the last two home Tests against England in October.

The injury-prone Shahzad also missed three home Test matches against England but got the nod ahead of left-arm pace bowler Mir Hamza.

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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket