Dubai: Medium pacer Morne Morkel and off spinner Johan Botha produced deadly spells to guide South Africa into a commanding position on the third day of the first Test at the Dubai Sports City International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Morkel returned with figures of five wickets for just 54 runs after Botha took three quick wickets in a span of 38 balls before lunch.
At tea, South Africa has taken a lead of 179 runs with nine wickets in hand. The only wicket to fall in South Africa’s second innings is that of Alviro Petersen, who was trapped leg before by Abdur Rehman for 26.
Commencing the day’s action with Pakistan on 114 for 2 they lost the wicket of Khan when Botha had him brilliant caught by a diving AB de Villiers at backward point.
Khan and Azhar Ali put on 65 runs for the third wicket in 28. 5 overs.
Skipper Misbah Ul Haq too followed scoring nine runs after playing 38 balls. He was caught by a diving Hashim Amla at short leg to an inside edge on to his pads.
Umar Akmal played an irresponsible shot trying to swing Botha over mid wicket and landed up spooning an easy catch to Dale Steyn at point for 4.
More irresponsible shots from batsmen followed. Adnan Akmal flashed outside the stumps to be caught behind by Boucher off Steyn. Abdur Rehman did nothing but hang his bat to a ball that pitched on the length to offer another catch to Boucher.
Injured Wahab Riaz, who decided to bat, swung wildly as if playing a Twenty20 match to give Boucher another catch and Saeed Ajmal too allowed himself to be caught behind to give Morkel his third five wicket haul in a Test match.
Ali was the only batsman to show some responsibility but he, too, fell at his score on 56 going back to a short delivery from Morkel and Amla taking another brilliant catch at short leg.
