Hashim Amla scored a magnificent century but regular wickets put South Africa on the back foot on Day 1.

by Pakpassion Staff (14th October 2013)

Day 1: South Africa are 245/8 after winning toss and electing to bat first

Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. 

Teams

South Africa: Smith, Petersen, Amla, Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, R Peterson, Philander, M Morkel, Steyn

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah, Shafiq, Adnan, Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid, Irfan

South Africa Innings:

Pakistan went in with two pacers and two spinners after Abdur Rehman was withdrew from contention with a sore back. Shan Masood and Zulfiqar Babar were handed Test caps.

South Africa didn’t get off to a start they would have desired to. Alviro Petersen was caught by Shan Masood for 3 in the third over. Graeme Smith followed him not very long after as he was caught behind off Mohammad Irfan, which was decided on a referral. He managed 15 runs. Despite talk of his desire to perform for longer, Jacques Kallis also couldn’t quite get going and was also caught behind - this time off Junaid Khan.

South Africa were in a bit of bother at 43/3, before Hashim Amla joined hands with AB de Villiers. Both of them did the repair work and the partnership crossed the 50 mark. AB de Villiers then lost his wicket in a way which he would found very bizarre - through a run out. He scored 19 runs.

JP Duminy, who had returned from injury, made his way out in the middle. He and Hashim Amla proceeded to build a partnership with JP Duminy making sure that the scoreboard ticked over at regular interval.

South Africa reached the tea interval without any further hiccups at 152/4. Soon after the break, JP Duminy brought up his half century. He was dropped by Adnan Akmal, but in the very next over, swept straight to Asad Shafiq, when he was batting on 57. He thus became Zulfiqar Babar’s first Test wicket.

Zulfiqar Babar continued to grow in confidence and removed Faf du Plessis for 1, who was caught sharply by Asad Shafiq as well. He then returned to bowl Robin Peterson out for 5 for his third wicket of the match.

Saeed Ajmal was also gifted with a wicket finally for his tidy bowling all day long. He got rid of Vernon Philander for 3. Hashim Amla negotiated the Pakistani bowlers well and with him was Dale Steyn, who looked to slog and play his shots. They both remained unbeaten at the end of the day’s play. Hashim Amla returned not out on a brilliant 118, while Dale Steyn ended the day on 13 at stumps. The score of the visitors was 245/8, when the bails were dislodged from the stumps by the umpires.

Fall Of Wickets 

1-6 (Petersen, 2.5 overs)
2-19 (Smith, 6.2 overs)
3-43 (Kallis, 16.4 overs)
4-104 (de Villiers, 40.3 overs)
5-199 (Duminy, 69.6 overs)
6-205 (du Plessis, 73.3 overs)
7-217 (Peterson, 79.2 overs)
8-222 (Philander, 82.1 overs)

A day of mixed fortunes but if the scoreline is the only judge, a day that belonged to Pakistani bowlers. However, with Hashim Amla at the crease and the prospect of another 40-60 runs and given recent form of Pakistani batsmen, it's too early to say that Pakistan have an upper hand. Day 2 will be crucial and could well decide the fate of the match.

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