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.
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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)
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)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Clark Hunt was not quite 5 years old when he settled into his seat in Tulane Stadium beside his parents to watch the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise his father had founded in the brazen days of the AFL, as they played the Minnesota Vikings in Super IV.
Hunt doesn't remember the game itself. But once in a while, photos will surface that he has never seen before.
“I do have a photo of me sitting with my parents in the stands, right? I think they were benches. It sort of looked like a corner,” said Hunt, now 59, who assumed control of the Chiefs when his father, the visionary Lamar Hunt, died in December 2006.
“I guess that shows you how things have changed,” Hunt said.
Indeed, it's a safe bet that Hunt and the rest of his family had comfortable seats in a luxury suite when the Chiefs faced the Eagles on Sunday at the Superdome. Led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and with a celebrity fan base that includes Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark, the Chiefs were chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
The fact was not lost on Hunt that they were trying to make history in the same city where they won their first Super Bowl with a 23-7 victory over the Vikings on Jan. 11, 1970. In fact, Hunt seemed to view the coincidence as something closer to kismet, a point that he underscored by pointing out that the Chiefs spent this week practicing at Tulane University.
“I hate to say I don't have any memories from that Super Bowl,” he said, "but getting to go to Tulane where we're training and being literally a stone's throw from the old stadium where we won Super Bowl IV is really special.
“I always think about my parents Super Bowl week,” Hunt added, “There's no way not to. But this one is going to be special.”
There's an argument to be made that nobody had a greater influence on the big game than Lamar Hunt.
The oil magnate was part of the “Foolish Club” that founded the AFL, back when they were being kept out of the NFL, and he was instrumental in the merger years later that ultimately brought the two professional football leagues together.
In a letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, Hunt mused about the pending title game, saying: “I have kiddingly called it the ‘Super Bowl,’ which obviously can be approved upon.” He was inspired by the must-have Christmas gift of the year that his wife, Norma, had gotten Clark Hunt and the rest of the kids: the Super Ball, made by toy company Wham-O.
Lamar Hunt regularly attended the Super Bowl, though he never saw his Chiefs play in it again. They wouldn't make it back until Andy Reid arrived in town, and Mahomes and Kelce helped Kansas City beat the 49ers in February 2020 — five full decades after they triumphed over the “Purple People Eaters” and the rest of the Vikings at Tulane Stadium.
Norma Hunt continued to attend the Super Bowl until her death in June 2023. At the time, she was one of four people — and the only woman — who had attended every game, beginning with the Chiefs' loss to the Packers on Jan. 15, 1967.
The Chiefs were back Sunday for the fifth time in six years. And they were chasing a threepeat against the Eagles, the team Kansas City beat a couple of years ago in Glendale, Arizona, to win the first of its back-to-back championships.
“I would say every Chiefs fan is spoiled, and that includes me, right? Because it has been such a special five or six years," Hunt told a small group of local reporters this week. “And I think we know we're spoiled because of the journey that it took to get to this point, and the five decades we went without getting back to the Super Bowl.”
This was the 11th time that New Orleans played host to the big game, tying Miami for the most of any city. The French Quarter had been packed all week with fans wearing Chiefs red and Eagles green, creating a kaleidoscope of Christmas colors stretching from Jackson Square to Canal Street, and bubbling all the way up to the Superdome.
The home of the Saints, and the de facto replacement for Tulane Stadium, was hosting the game for the eighth time.
“I don't think any of us really could have dreamed it being like this, and having the success we've had,” Clark Hunt said. “My dad would have loved it because in his heart, he was a fan — him and my mom were fans, first and foremost. And he would love it for our fans, because that was always a focus of his.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform during a power outage at the Superdome in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, in New Orleans, Feb. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
FILE - New Orleans Saints fans listen to the Goo Goo Dolls in front of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sept. 25, 2006, upon reopening for the New Orleans Saints' first game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina struck more than a year earlier. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt holds the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, wife Tavia Shackles Hunt, center, and daughter Gracie Hunt pose on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)