A near-perfect day for South Africa. Pakistan will rue the missed opportunities but in all honesty they were torn to shreds by two top class batsmen. It remains to be seen when South Africa will declare, but a series leveling victory now looks to be a certainty with so much time left in the game.

By PakPassion Staff (24th October, 2013)

Day 2: South Africa are 460/4 and lead by 361 runs.

Teams

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

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


South Africa Innings:

With South Africa already in the lead, early wickets were the order of the day for Pakistan and Irfan provided the breakthrough by dismissing Dale Steyn, the night watchman leaving a ball that crashed into his off stump. Irfan, in the middle of a terrific spell, should have had AB de Villiers first ball but a diving Adnan Akmal couldn't hold on to the edge. It was a lifeline for South Africa and it proved to be a costly error from the Pakistani keeper.

Smith and de Villiers built a steady partnership, the latter playing some delightful strokes off the spinnners. Ajmal should have had him LBW though as the umpire gave a not out decision that would have been overturned on review. Unfortunately Pakistan had lost both their reviews early in the South African innings and were still 10 overs away from the 80 over 'top up'. Smith brought up his 27th Test century with a straight drive off Ajmal as South Africa went into lunch leading by 99.

Pakistan went further behind in the afternoon session, with both batsmen now starting to dominate a weary and tiring bowling attack. De Villiers was particularly attacking, laying into any loose stuff and seemingly finding the boundary at will. He raced past 50 and then really cut loose, a six over long off signifying his intentions. Smith meanwhile hit three consecutive fours off Ajmal to bring up his 150 and his highest score against Pakistan. De Villiers wasn't far behind with a milestone of his own, reaching three figures just before tea with a lofted cover drive - yet again a batsman punishing Pakistan for giving him an early let-off.

The post-tea session was equally painful for Pakistan. Graeme Smith reached a magnificent double hundred while de Villiers crossed 150 as the pair put on the highest ever 5th wicket partnership for South Africa. De Villiers had yet another reprieve when he was given out LBW but the decision was overturned on review, hawkeye suggesting that the ball would have spun too much and missed leg stump. He also survived a close run out while Smith got his share of luck when he edged Junaid between keeper and slip. Absolutely nothing went right for Pakistan and they had their 4th unsuccessful review of the innings when Smith looked to have edged to leg slip but was given not out.

At the close of play, Smith and de Villiers were both unbeaten on 227* and 157* respectively, with South Africa leading by 361 runs.

Fall Of Wickets

4-134 (Steyn, 55.4 ov)

 

A near-perfect day for South Africa. Pakistan will rue the missed opportunities but in all honesty they were torn to shreds by two top class batsmen. It remains to be seen when South Africa will declare, but a series leveling victory now looks to be a certainty with so much time left in the game.

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