South Africa 253
Pakistan 6/0 (2.0 ov)
Pakistan trail by 247 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Stumps - Day 1
Lunch time report: It took into the second hour of the morning, but Pakistan made useful inroads into South Africa's top order by removing both openers before lunch on the opening day. Graeme Smith, who has been the focus of most of the build-up, and Alviro Petersen had battled hard against the new ball before both fell to edges behind the wicket as South Africa reached 68 for 2.
Junaid Khan, the left-armer, was the pick of the Pakistan attack and after an hour-and-a-half, during his second spell, he provided the breakthrough. Bowling from around the wicket he found Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Umar Gul had Smith caught behind when South Africa's captain also aimed to the on side.
There had been plenty to distract Smith in the build-up to this match, as he became the first man to lead in 100 Tests, but he seemingly managed to put birthdays and landmarks to one side. Although he was not always secure outside off stump he looked steeled for a typically tone-setting innings and he was angry with himself at the mode of dismissal.
On a surface where the cracks are expected to play a part later in the match both captains were keen to bat first and it was Smith who gained that choice but he knew conditions would offer the bowlers some assistance. Even in the era of increased scoring rates there are times 'give' a period to the bowlers and the opening six overs brought just six runs as Smith and Petersen left as much as they could.
Both openers were struck on the pads, beaten by some late movement particularly by Junaid, but were also alert to quick singles into the off side. The pressure was relieved a little by Rahat Ali's first spell in Test cricket. Despite being a late addition to the squad, and only arriving in South Africa on Monday, he was preferred to Mohammad Irfan. His four overs cost 21, although one of the boundaries he conceded was because of a misfield at mid-off, before the second spells of Junaid and Gul brought rewards.
After the quick loss of the openers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis kept Pakistan at bay until the lunch interval. Saeed Ajmal made a brief appearance before the break and, although conditions favour the quicks, will likely be needed for a lengthy spell to allow the quicks to rotate.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Faf fu Plessis, 7 Dean Elgar, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel
Pakistan 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Rahat Ali
Tea report: Two superb catches to remove Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, the two pillars of South Africa's middle order, ensured the opening day of the series remained tightly contested at the Wanderers. Umar Gul and Junaid Khan led Pakistan's bowling effort, but it was the unexpected role of Younis Khan that really buoyed them as South Africa reached tea on 159 for 4.
Introduced after half the days' overs had been bowled, Younis, who before today had seven Test wickets with a combination of legspin and shuffling medium pace, dropped a ball short outside off which Amla went to cut but did not keep the shot down and Azhar Ali, at gully, clung onto a flying chance above his head. Azhar's catch followed the lead set by Asad Shafiq a few moments earlier.
Amla and Kallis had added 79 for the third wicket with increasing fluency after lunch - at one stage there were four consecutive boundaries between them - with Kallis reaching fifty off 74 balls. Gul then dropped in a short ball which Kallis pulled firmly in front of square, but not to ground, and Shafiq ran from deep square-leg and grasped the chance low to the ground.
Kallis' innings had shown the side of his game that has evolved in the latter part of his career; a counter-attacking ability to seize the initiative. Both he and Amla played Saeed Ajmal confidently, milking him for four-an-over in his first spell, to threaten a breakaway by South Africa. Ironically, though, it could well have been the fact that Ajmal did not pose a huge threat that encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to give Younis his profitable trundle.
Junaid, the left-armer, was the pick of the Pakistan attack and after an hour-and-a-half, he provided the breakthrough in his second spell to disrupt South Africa's early hard work. Bowling from around the wicket he found Alviro Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Gul had Graeme Smith caught behind when South Africa's captain also aimed to the on side.
There had been plenty to distract Smith in the build-up to this match, as he became the first man to lead in 100 Tests and on his birthday, but he seemingly managed to put birthdays and landmarks to one side. Although he was not always secure outside off stump he looked steeled for a typically tone-setting innings and he was angry with himself at the mode of dismissal.
On a surface where the cracks were expected to play a part later in the match, both captains were keen to bat first and it was Smith who gained that choice, but he knew conditions would offer the bowlers some assistance. Even in the era of increased scoring rates there are times to 'give' a period to the bowlers and the opening six overs brought just six runs as Smith and Petersen left as much as they could.
Both openers were struck on the pads, beaten by some late movement particularly by Junaid, but were also alert to quick singles on the off side. The pressure was relieved a little by Rahat Ali's first spell in Test cricket. Despite being a late addition to the squad, and only arriving in South Africa on Monday, Ali was preferred to Mohammad Irfan. His first four overs cost 21 and he was also expensive during the afternoon, but rewards came from elsewhere for Pakistan.
Stumps report: Pakistan ended a fascinating opening day of the series with the advantage after chipping South Africa out for 253 at the Wanderers. Mohammad Hafeez bagged career-best figures of 4 for 16 to run through the lower order, building on a consistent performance from the visiting attack throughout the day, as the early exchanges lived up to the hope of a competitive series.
Only Jacques Kallis posted a half-century; sharp catching aided Pakistan's efforts while the bowlers shared the early wickets around, before Hafeez nipped in. Younis Khan, who before today had seven Test wickets, provided a huge bonus for Pakistan when he claimed Hashim Amla in his first over, and Hafeez struck first ball to remove AB de Villiers.
Junaid Khan, the left-arm quick, was the overall pick of the attack, maintaining his accuracy throughout the day, but it was Hafeez who ended with the biggest haul. Having been given the new ball mid over, he removed Robin Peterson, shouldering arms, and then had Dean Elgar caught down the leg side. South Africa lost their last five wickets for 21, including a poor run-out of Vernon Philander, to leave Pakistan with two overs to face before the close.
Misbah-ul-Haq deserves much praise for an excellent day as captain. There was an element of luck in Younis' surprise role, but it was smart use of Hafeez to keep him in the attack with left-hand batsmen at the crease, rather than opt for what would seem the more obvious choice of a quick with the new ball. Yet, it is a role Hafeez is used to performing.
Despite the openers falling in consecutive overs before lunch, a stand of 79 between Kallis and Amla was threatening to pull South Africa away in familiar style. However, moments after reaching a 74-ball fifty, Kallis failed to keep a sweetly struck pull shot down and Asad Shafiq made significant ground from deep square-leg to hold a fine catch.
Kallis' innings had shown the side of his game that has evolved in the latter part of his career; a counter-attacking ability to seize the initiative. Both he and Amla played Saeed Ajmal confidently, milking him for four an over in his first spell, although ironically it could have been the fact that Ajmal, who ended up wicketless from 23 overs, did not pose a huge threat that encouraged Misbah to give Younis his profitable trundle. With his third ball, Younis dropped one short outside off stump, Amla cut it but did not keep the shot down and Azhar Ali, at gully, clung onto a flying chance above his head.
What will frustrate Smith and Gary Kirsten is the number of wasted starts. South Africa had appeared to battle through the toughest conditions when Smith and Alviro Petersen, leaving as much as they could early, blunted Pakistan's early efforts. However, one of the factors that makes the Wanderers such a good Test venue is that the bowlers always have some encouragement.
Junaid, having return for a second spell, made the breakthrough when he found Petersen's edge by cramping him for room from round the wicket as he tried to play to leg. In the next over Smith, who had been the focus of so much attention in the build-up to the match, was also guilty of aiming across the line, and he edged a full delivery from Gul.
There had been plenty to distract Smith leading to this match, as he became the first man to lead in 100 Tests and on his birthday, but he seemingly managed to put those events to one side. He looked steeled for a typically tone-setting innings and was angry with himself at the mode of dismissal.
Amla and Kallis, the two pillars of South Africa's middle order, firstly consolidated either side of lunch, and then started to expand their strokeplay, including a period of four consecutive boundaries between them. By tea, however, both had been removed and, unlike the New Zealand attack of a few weeks ago, Pakistan kept applying pressure.
There was a hint of controversy early in the final session - not for the first time sparked by the DRS - when Pakistan were convinced that Faf du Plessis had edged debutant Rahat Ali to the keeper. They reviewed the not-out decision by Billy Bowden and the TV umpire concluded there was no conclusive evidence to overturn although there was a growing consensus a short while later that there was a mark on the edge.
Pakistan used up their second review eight overs later when they thought de Villiers was caught down the leg side off Ajmal, but did not have to wait much longer for success. Hafeez's first ball was floated wide of off stump, de Villiers pressed forward and Sarfraz Ahmed snapped up the outside edge.
Already in a young Test career, du Plessis has rescued South Africa more than once but this time, having reached 41, departed in curious style after playing a forward defensive which sent the ball rolling slowly back towards the stumps to knock off a bail. Du Plessis held his pose for so long that he could have had time to turn and kick the ball away. The rest departed in an unexpected hurry, but judgements on the total will need to be held until South Africa's attack has responded.
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