That’s stumps on Day 2 and needless to say, once again the hosts are in a commanding position as they lead by 411 runs. The only bone of contention for Pakistan was that they managed to pick three wickets in quick successions but since then, Amla and de Villiers have stitched an unbeaten 108-run partnership. Amla reached his half-century off the penultimate delivery of the day.
It was once again a day that belonged to Dale Steyn. He came with all guns blazing as he picked six wickets for just 8 runs and reduced Pakistan for their lowest ever Test total, 49. One should not forget that lovely spell from Kallis where he swung the ball both ways and scalped Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq. Pakistan would need a miracle to take this match into the fourth day! With a lead of over 400 runs, we might once again see, a Dale Steyn show on Day 3!
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SOUTH AFRICA: Over: 50 II Score: 201/3 (Amla: 48*, de Villiers: 59)
Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers have completed a century partnership. AB scored a boundary off Rahat Ali at fine leg. Earlier in the game, de Villiers was given lbw off Ajmal which was further challenged by the right-hander and the third umpire’s decision was not-out as the hot-spot once again didn’t show any signs of accuracy. South Africa now lead by 405 runs.
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SOUTH AFRICA: Over: 38 II Score: 154/3 ( Amla: 32*, de Villiers: 30*)
Amla and de Villiers have added unbeaten 57 runs for the fourth wicket. With a lead that has now gone over 300, there two are taking their chances off lose deliveries. South Africa now lead by 358 runs.
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SOUTH AFRICA: Over: 30 II Score: 110/3 ( Alma: 16*, de Villiers: 6*)
Umar Gul dismissed Graeme Smith (52) and Alviro Petersen (27) in two overs after which Saeed Ajmal scalped the big wicket of Jacques Kallis. Finally there is some relief for Pakistan as they pick three wickets but the hosts already lead by 318 runs.
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SOUTH AFRICA: Over: 19 II Score: 73/0 ( Smith: 41*, Petersen: 27*)
And that’s tea! Another session dominated by the hosts. The Proteas now lead by 277 runs as the openers have shown some resilience on a pitch where their own bowlers looked unplayable. Pakistan haven’t bowled that bad, but they haven’t managed to find their first breakthrough.
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SOUTH AFRICA: Over: 12 II Score: 51/0( Smith: 25*, Petersen: 21*)
Pakistan were bowled out for 49. South Africa scored 253 runs in the first innings and in their second they have already scored 50 runs with skipper Smith and Petersen at the crease. Their lead has extended to 256 runs. Pakistan bowlers haven’t bowled bad and they were unlucky as the few edges didn’t carry to the slip fielders. Petersen pulled a short ball for a boundary at midwicket to bring South Africa’s half-century!
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PAKISTAN INNINGS
So while on Day 1 we thought Pakistan were in control after wrapping the Proteas innings for 253, it was altogether a different story on Day 2 where Dale Steyn, once again, proved his class and the Pakistan batsmen couldn’t do much about the way he bowled.
Pakistan were dismissed for their lowest ever total in Tests and South Africa have decided to bat once again, extend their lead and then leave it to their bowlers to wreak havoc once again!
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PAKISTAN: Over: 29.1 II Score: 49/10( Junaid: 8*)
Junaid hits two consecutive boundaries off Philander. Did not look too classy but Pakistan can do with a few such hits. Rahat Ali is dismissed by Steyn.
Rahat Ali c du Plessis b Steyn 0 (9m 6b 0x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 28 II Score: 41/9( Ali: 0*, Junaid: 0*)
Pakistan have lost another wicket. This time its Ahmed who edges one from Steyn and is accepted gleefully by de Villiers. This is Steyn’s 20th five wicket haul for Dale Steyn.
Sarfraz Ahmed c de Villiers b Steyn 2 (28m 13b 0x4 0x6)
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Pakistan go into lunch at 40 for the loss of 7 wickets. This session undoubtedly belonged to the home team. Some really good bowling from the pacers combined with some irresponsible strokeplay from the Pakistan batsmen has put the tourists in a precarious position.
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PAKISTAN: Over: 22.3 II Score: 39/7( Ahmed: 1*)
South Africa have picked up another wicket. Gul this time prods at one outside off stump and the slip fielder completes a regulation catch.
Pakistan have lost another wicket. This time its Shafiq who plays a horrible shot and the catch is completed by de Villiers.
Umar Gul c Smith b Philander 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6)
Asad Shafiq c de Villiers b Philander 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 21.1 II Score: 37/5( Shafiq: 0*)
Loud shout for a catch behind off Kallis but the umpire says no. Interestingly, the keeper’s appeal was not convincing. Proteas go for a review. Hotspot cannot detect anything. Billi Bowden has raised his finger though. Misbah looks very annoyed.
Misbah-ul-Haq c de Villiers b Kallis 12 (77m 45b 3x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 20 II Score: 36/4( Misbah: 12*)
Just as things were settling down for Pakistan Kallis has given them another blow. This time its Azhar Ali who is caught by de Villiers to an unplayable delivery from Kallis.
Azhar Ali c de Villiers b Kallis 13 (81m 46b 2x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 14 II Score: 23/3( Ali: 4*, Misbah: 4*)
The South African pacers continue to bowl a probing line and length. Pakistani batsmen are playing with extreme caution. Pakistan desperately need a partnership here.
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PAKISTAN: Over: 6 II Score: 12/3( Ali: 2*)
Pakistan’s innings is falling apart. This time Younis Khan edges one from Steyn straight into the hands of Smith at first slip.
Younis Khan c Smith b Steyn 0 (5b 0x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 5.1 II Score: 12/2( Ali: 2*)
Philander pitches one on leg stump and gets it to straighten and it results in a huge appeal for lbw. The umpire says no but the Proteas ask for a review. However replays confirm that the ball would have gone over the stumps and Jamshed survives.
This time Dale Steyn traps Jamshed on the pads and this one looks pretty similar to the earlier appeal but this time Billy Bowden raises his ‘crooked finger’. Jamshed opts for the review but this time the decision is upheld. So Pakistan lose their second wicket.
Nasir Jamshed lbw b Steyn 2 (15b 0x4 0x6)
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PAKISTAN: Over: 4 II Score: 11/1( Jamshed: 2*, Ali: 2*)
Philander starts off preoccedings, for the Proteas on day 2, with a maiden. Nice line and length from Philander. Dale Steyn bowls from the other end. Nasir Jamshed leans into a drive for two runs. Steyn strikes and Hafeez is gone. This was a perfect delivery to the right hander just outside the off stump and Hafeez gets a faint edge and is taken safely by de Villiers behind the stumps. Azhar Ali is the new batsman and he starts off with a flick off his pads for a couple of runs.
Mohammad Hafeez c de Villiers b Steyn 6 (14b 1x4 0x6)
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Johannesburg: Pakistan are on top after restricting the Proteas to 253 in their first innings on day one of the 1st Test played in Johannesburg. However South Africa still have a chance of pulling things back if they can get a few early breakthroughs. A lot will depend on the opening partnership of Hafeez and Jamshed. With the ball just two overs old the South African pacers will be looking to pick up early wickets and create some pressure on the Pakistani middle order.
