The first day of the second Castle Lager Test between South Africa and Pakistan at St George’s Park on Friday ended with honours more or less even. After bowling South Africa out for a paltry 124 before tea, Pakistan had 135 for six at the close for an overall lead of 11 runs.
South Africa’s day started well when they won the toss on a breezy day in the Bay, but they were soon at sixes and sevens, with wickets tumbling like pick-up sticks.
South Africa named a team that was unchanged from the one who won the first Test at Supersport Park by seven wickets, while Pakistan introduced the world’s top scorer from 2006, Mohammad Yousuf, and two top bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.
Akhtar came back from his drugs ban with a bang, taking four wickets for 36 runs. He was the one who did the early damage, claiming the first two scalps — AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, both of whom were caught behind by Kamran Akmal.
Graeme Smith was playing confidently and looking good when he was caught in the slips by Younis Khan off Danish Kaneria for 28. Ashwell Prince, who has been having a golden summer, with two centuries and a 90, made just two before being caught by Imran Farhat off Mohammad Sami to have South Africa four wickets down before they had reached 50 runs.
Herschelle Gibbs, who made 94 in the first Test, also made two and then was given out lbw trying to sweep Kaneria.
Jacques Kallis was out shortly after lunch, caught by Akmal off Akhtar for 24, and Shaun Pollock made four before being caught by Sami off Akhtar soon after receiving a painful blow on the foot from an Akhtar delivery.
Mark Boucher and Andre Nel put on 31 for the eighth wicket for the biggest partnership of the innings, which ended when Boucher was caught in the slips by Younis Khan off Kaneria for 35.
When Paul Harris was caught by Yasir Hameed off Asif 40 minutes before tea, South Africa were all out for 124 — their lowest total against Pakistan.
Proteas coach Mickey said South Africa’s batting performance had been very poor.
”There were too many soft dismissals — no application and no patience,” he said. ”It’s a really good wicket — the kind of wicket we wanted, so it was disappointing to go out for 124. We have talked about it, and the top six know what they have to do.”
Akhtar said he thought the key to Pakistan’s bowling success was that the bowlers had worked together and in partnerships. ”Every spell, every session, we were able to take wickets,” he said. ”We played well as a team.”
He said he was very happy to have played so well in his first match back in the team. ”Coming back from seven months off, I thought I would need at least one Test to come back, but I was lucky and I got a few wickets,” said Akhtar.
”Controversy has always been the story of my life, but playing for my country is my biggest motivator. Each day I go out to play for my country; it is the most honourable thing I can do.”
The Proteas came out fighting, and Makhaya Ntini took four wickets to give Pakistan some problems. Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf scored 60 for the fourth wicket, and Khan and Kamran Akmal put on 76 for the fifth. But when Khan was caught by Gibbs for 45 in the penultimate over of the day to give Ntini his fourth wicket, South Africa were back in the match.
Mohammad Sami came out as night watchman and survived two balls, only to see Akmal perish in the last over when he was caught by Prince off Nel for 33. The other Pakistan wicket to fall went to Pollock, who had Yousuf out lbw for 32.
Arthur said South Africa were well and truly back in the match after taking the last two wickets of the day. ”We’re right back in there,” he said. ”We have set ourselves realistic goals, and I think we are ahead of our goals. The good thing for us is that Inzy [Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq] comes in with the tail. It means he’ll have to play a totally different kind of innings.
”The guys know exactly what our goals are, and where we need to be at the end of our second innings, and I’m quite confident that we will be there,” said Arthur. He did, however, concede that he was happier at the close of play than he had been 10 minutes earlier. — Sapa