Pakistan bowlers leave South Africa reeling

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan tightened the noose firmly over South Africa in the first Test by claiming four wickets in the final session of the third day’s play at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.

The Proteas were reeling at 72 for 4 in 26 overs when the match was called off due to bad light with seven overs remaining for the day. Still trailing by 121 runs and with six wickets remaining, South Africa now have a herculean task in front of them.

Mohammad Irfan rocked South Africa early in the second innings with the wicket of Alviro Petersen, who was a bit late in getting his glove out of the way to a rising delivery, and Adnan Akmal completed the formality behind the stumps.

Skipper Graeme Smith, known for his stubborn knocks in the second innings, looked good initially. But he got caught in the web of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Saeed Ajmal, who beat him with his flight, and Akmal removed the stumps on the second attempt.

It was Ajmal’s 150th wicket in 29 Tests, making him the second fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the milestone after Waqar Younis did it in 27 Tests.

Jacques Kallis’ stay at the crease lasted a mere five balls and he was out for a duck after being caught plumb in front of the crease trying to play across the line off Junaid Khan, leaving South Africa reeling on 58 for 3.

However, what really rattled the South Africans was the loss of the wicket of their reliable centurion from the first innings, Hashim Amla. The number three batsman got a thick outside edge from the first delivery that he faced from the left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, and Ajmal made no mistake with the catch.

Earlier, Pakistan skipper Misbah ul-Haq underlined the statement that age is just a number and one can keep going as long as one has the will by scoring his fourth Test hundred at the age of 39.

The ton not only saw Misbah become the oldest Test centurion for Pakistan, but also put his side in a strong position as his team finished their first innings on 442 with a formidable lead of 193 runs. It was only Pakistan’s fourth 400-plus score against South Africa.

Misbah, playing in his 42nd Test, had got out nine times after getting into the 80s. However, yesterday he made his good form count. He got to the milestone by taking a single off J.P. Duminy to deep midwicket and celebrated with his arm and bat aloft. Misbah’s last Test century had came against the West Indies in May 2011.

However, even before the celebration could end among the fans, Dale Steyn, who had gone without a wicket until then for 24 overs, got Misbah out leg before. The ball nipped back sharply and it struck the Pakistani captain on the knee roll, enough for the umpire to give him out.

The decision remained intact as the review showed that the ball was going on to clip the bails.

Earlier, opener Khurram Manzoor missed out on an opportunity to make 150. He had started the day on a promising note with a couple of clinical drives, but could only add another 15 to his overnight score of 131 before falling for a delivery pitched wide by Vernon Philander in the sixth over of the day.

Manzoor’s 146 came after 388 minutes stay at the crease, from 266 deliveries, and it was embellished with 15 hits to the fence.

Khurram’s knock was the highest score by a Pakistani against South Africa, the previous best being Azhar Mahmood’s 136 at Johannesburg in 1998.

At lunch, Pakistan were sitting pretty on 352 for 4, leading by 103 runs with Misbah going strong on 75 and Shafiq on a solid 40. A well-set Shafiq later went on to get his third 50 against South Africa, but a slight lapse in concentration brought an abrupt end to his fine knock. Shafiq, trying to hit Duminy over the midwicket, handed a simple catch to Alviro Petersen.

Adnan Akmal, who came in next, survived a scare after being given out caught behind off an inside edge. Akmal immediately called for a review and, with no Hot Spot in place, it was not conclusive if he had edged it and the decision was overturned.

Steyn then got Junaid Khan caught at midwicket and sent Akmal’s (32) leg stump cart wheeling with a yorker to wrap up Pakistan innings at 442.