South Africa reaches 82-3 after Pakistan folds for 211 against pacers Paterson and Bosch in 1st test

CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — Dane Paterson bagged his second successive five-wicket haul and Corbin Bosch made a dream test debut with a wicket off his first ball as 13 batters fell to pace bowlers on an eventful start to the Boxing Day test match between South Africa and Pakistan on Thursday.

Paterson followed a 5-71 against Sri Lanka earlier this month with 5-61 and 30-year-old Bosch went on to claim 4-63 in his first test match as Pakistan was bowled out for 211.

Kamran Ghulam’s counterattacking 54 off 71 balls and a stubborn 22-run last wicket partnership between Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas allowed the tourists to cross the 200-run mark on a seamer-friendly SuperSport Park pitch where batters had been struggling for the last six years.

South Africa, which needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan to seal a place in next June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s, reached 82-3 at stumps.

Aiden Markram made an attractive unbeaten 47 off 67 balls and captain Temba Bavuma was not out on 4 as fit-again Shahzad claimed two wickets and Abbas, playing his first test after more than three years, removed Tristan Stubbs for 9.

Shahzad hit the top of Tony de Zorzi’s (2) middle stump with a delivery that jagged back into the left-hander and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan took a splendid low catch to dismiss Ryan Rickelton (8) with fast bowlers making full use of conducive conditions throughout the day.

Abbas then baffled Stubbs with a nippy delivery and had him trapped leg before wicket before South Africa ended the day without further damage.

Paterson filled the void perfectly after several South African fast bowlers were sidelined for the two-match series due to injuries, dismissing five of the top seven Pakistan batters.

Paterson’s 5-fer came after Bosch had lured Pakistan captain Shan Masood (17) to play a lose drive and had him caught in the slips an hour after captain Temba Bavuma had won the toss and elected to field.

Bosch joined four other countrymen -- Bert Vogler, Dane Piedt, Hardu Viljoen and Tshepo Moreki -- to achieve the unique feat of getting a wicket with their first ball in test cricket.

Bosch’s breakthrough saw Pakistan’s top-order crumble against the pace with Paterson finding edges of Ayub and Babar Azam (4).

Babar, who was dropped for the last two test matches at home against England, has long been struggling in red-ball cricket. His struggles continued as he hit Bosch for a boundary off the first ball he faced before playing loosely to Paterson and getting caught in the slips after facing just 11 balls.

Left-hander Saud Shakeel (14) struck three fours against Paterson before Bosch had him caught down the leg-side off a sharp short pitch ball after South Africa successfully went for a television review as Pakistan lost four wickets in the space of 20 runs and limped to 4-56.

Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan rebuilt the innings with an attractive 81-run partnership before Paterson removed both batters after lunch in successive overs. Ghulam top-edged a pull to Rabada at fine leg and Rizwan poked at a delivery to the slips.

Aamer Jamal (28 off 27 balls) was twice dropped by Stubbs in the slips before Pakistan lost three wickets without a run and crumbled to 189-9. Bosch was on a hat trick when Jamal played the fast bowler back onto his stumps and Naseem Shah offered a tame catch at mid-on. Abbas survived the hat trick ball before Pakistan was bowled out early in the last session.

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

South Africa's Temba Bavuma chases the ball during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada fields off his own bowling during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad misplay a delivery during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Kamran Ghulam makes a run during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Dane Paterson, right, celebrates with his teammates after dismissing Pakistan's Salman Agha during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel, centre, leaves the field after being dismissed during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Corbin Bosch, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking a wicket of Pakistan's Shan Masood for 17 runs during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Corbin Bosch, left, celebrates after bowling out Pakistan's Aamer Jamal during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Dane Paterson, centre, celebrates with teammates after dismissing Pakistan's Salman Agha during day one of the Test cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at Centurion Park, in Centurion, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Corbin Bosch, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking a wicket of Pakistan's Shan Masood for 17 runs during third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel plays a shot during third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Corbin Bosch, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking a wicket of Pakistan's Shan Masood for 17 runs during third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's players celebrate after teammate Corbin Bosch took a wicket during third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton racing a Ferrari for the first time. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen arriving without a lot of mileage in his Red Bull. Lando Norris helping McLaren set a benchmark with his pace in testing.

Formula 1 is expecting a hyper-competitive milestone 75th anniversary season in 2025, and it starts this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix. There’s no shortage of unknowns in terms of the pecking order, and the weather.

Most of the headlines ahead of Sunday’s Australian GP have revolved around Hamilton’s move to Ferrari from Mercedes.

The normally relaxed pre-event news conference at Albert Park was overflowing with journalists and photographers on Thursday to hear from a rejuvenated Hamilton about how much he’s enjoying the prancing horse-ride.

The 40-year-old British driver is going into his 19th season in F1 but has had a different outlook since his first day in January at the Scuderia’s Maranello HQ, where he's teammates with Charles Leclerc.

“I don’t really approach this role with pressure,” Hamilton said. “I think over the years, the pressure I put on myself has always been 10 times higher than any other pressure that could be put upon me. I haven’t joined this team and been made to feel any pressure.

“I have an expectation for myself — I know what I can bring. I know what I can deliver. And I know what it’s going to take.”

Norris has been trying to downplay his long-run pace that impressed the paddock during pre-season testing in Bahrain last month and made McLaren an early-season favorite.

“I know there’s a lot of expectation,” Norris said. “It was just my one race run I did that kind of just made everyone believe this quite heavily. It was a good race run, but it was also in the most perfect conditions."

He tried to temper expectations by saying McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri 's run the following day “was a lot slower.” “Not because he drove worse," Norris explained, “but simply because the conditions on the final day were considerably slower.”

There’s no denying, though, that McLaren is confident going into the opening race of the season, even if they’re not quite sure of their ultimate pace.

“No one really knows what to expect,” said Piastri, who is aiming to become the first Aussie to win the Australian F1 Grand Prix.

“Testing went pretty well, but you don’t know where everybody stands. I think we’re pretty happy with how our test went, but Melbourne is a completely different track to Bahrain. Weather is going to be different to Bahrain and different every hour, by the look of it.”

Ferrari took the contest to long-time rival McLaren in the second practice as Leclerc closed out the session on top, just over one-tenth of a second ahead of Piastri and Norris

Leclerc and Norris traded fastest times throughout the late afternoon run, with their pace witnessed by 125,548 people at the leafy inner-city Albert Park circuit, a record Friday crowd for the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton had a much stronger second session for Ferrari, with the seven-time world champion finishing fifth, just over fourth-tenths behind teammate Leclerc.

Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, shaded the main squad, with Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar showing surprising speed to end the session in fourth and sixth.

World champion Max Verstappen could do no better than seventh, almost a half-second behind in the second session. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman didn't enter the second practice after his crash in the morning session.

The final practice will precede Saturday qualifying, which starts at 4 p.m. local time (0500 GMT).

Piastri, born and bred in Melbourne, is correct. The southern Australian city is set to deliver this weekend on the famous “four seasons in one day” expression that often describes Melbourne's ever-changeable weather.

The Albert Park circuit should be comfortable for F1’s opening practice sessions on Friday, with a partly cloudy day expected and a top of 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit). Temperatures are expected to rise to 37C (98F) on Saturday for qualifying and then drop again again for the race on Sunday, when there's also rain on the forecast.

A wet race would certainly mix things up, with teams needing to guess on setup following two days of dry running.

Verstappen, though, whose Red Bull team did the least mileage in pre-season testing, says he’s prepared for any conditions.

“I would like it to be dry because it’s just nicer, (and) also for the fans,” Verstappen said. “But if it’s wet, it’s wet. It’s fine as well."

Piastri won’t be the only Aussie on the Melbourne grid. Jack Doohan, the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, is starting his first full season with Alpine – which appears to have taken a significant step forward over its 2024 pace.

Although speculation through pre-season has been whether Doohan will keep that seat, with his French team bringing in former Williams driver Franco Colapinto as a reserve.

“I have a contract for at least this year, if not more,” said Doohan, who is one of six rookies this season, the most on the F1 grid since 2001. “And the uncertainties? You don’t bother worrying about them. I think I have to perform each and every time I’m in the car.”

Ferrari secured a 1-2 finish in Melbourne last year led by Sainz, just two weeks after an appendectomy that sidelined him in Saudi Arabia. But the 30-year-old Sainz will likely be fighting for points and not podiums this time around now that he’s at Williams.

“I’m definitely going to do my best to score (points) as soon as possible,” Sainz said.

Ferrari is the most successful team in Australia with 14 GP wins, dating back to Adelaide in 1987. Hamilton is one of five drivers on the current F1 grid to have won in Melbourne, with his victories in 2008 and 2015.

Sunday’s season opener will be the 39th World Championship Australian Grand Prix, and the 28th in Melbourne. It starts at 3 p.m. local time (0400 GMT).

AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car down pit lane during the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands waits in his car during the second practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley )

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the second practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the second practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco waits in his car during the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain gets into his car for the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Track marshalls put Haas driver Oliver Bearman of Britain's car on a truck following a crash during the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley )

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain gestures as he talks with a team mechanic during the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda, left, of Japan and McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain race beside each other during the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain looks at his car ahead of the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts following the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, right, of Australia and teammate Lando Norris of Britain pose for the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain walks through the F1 paddock ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia reacts during the drivers press conference ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts as he walks through the F1 paddock ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley)

Fans wait for the drivers arrival ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain poses for the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gestures during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts during a drivers press conference ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley)