Abu Dhabi, Oct 16: Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack caught world number one Test team South Africa napping on the third day of the first Test here today.
South Africa lost four top-order batsmen against a spirited Pakistan and now need another 121 runs to avoid an innings defeat at Sheikh Zayed Stadium and concede the lead in the two-Test series.
AB de Villiers was unbeaten on 11 and with him nightwatchman Dale Steyn on nought on a day when Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq scored his fourth Test hundred and then sent his rivals into submission.
Pakistan removed Alviro Petersen (17), Graeme Smith (32) and Jacques Kallis (nought) by the 19th over and then first innings centurion Hashim Amla for ten to move closer to a big victory when bad light curtailed play seven overs early.
Paceman Mohammad Irfan started aggressively, trapping Smith in front off the very first ball of the innings but Pakistan’s referral was unsuccessful after the umpire initially ruled it not out.
But Irfan struck in his sixth over when a rising delivery caught Petersen by surprise, the batsman failing to keep his glove out of the way before Adnan Akmal held the catch cleanly.
Smith looked confident during his 61-ball knock but missed one delivery from Saeed Ajmal and was stumped on the second attempt by Akmal, leaving South Africa at 57-2.
With Smith’s scalp, Ajmal completed his 150 wickets in 29 Tests — joint fourth fastest to reach the milestone and second Pakistani behind paceman Waqar Younis, who completed the tally in 27 Tests.
A run later Kallis was trapped in front of the wicket by fast bowler Junaid Khan for a five-ball duck, spoiling the most reliable South African batsman’s comeback and 38th birthday.
Amal, who hit 118 in the first innings, fell caught behind off left-armer Zulfiqar Babar’s first delivery in the innings to leave South Africa tottering at 72-4. (AGENCIES)
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Overall the hosts have held sway over the rest in fray and are on way to sweeping the medal tally, expect for the India A girls who could end up with the silver. They are expected to meet the Chinese in the Junior Girls final.
In the Junior Girls, the Reeth and Ayhika had to put in the extra effort to win their group match against the India-China combination of Senhora D’Souza and Xiaotong Sun. One Chinese in that combine made all the difference with Sun winning both her singles.
However, with Senhora being the weak link, Reeth and Ayhika won their singles against the Mumbai girl and then beat the India-China duo in the doubles to book their semifinal slot.
In yet another match, India B fared well in the Cadet Boys section as they went past China, thanks to Ayush Tayal and Arjun Ghosh. Though Tayal lost his match to Yuhao Wang, Ghosh levelled the score by winning against Beizeng Wang.
After the Indians went 2-1 up after beating the Chinese pair in the doubles, Arjun had a tough ask against Yuhao in the reverse singles. Arjun, brushing aside a stiff challenge, won 3-2 (4-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7). (UNI)
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