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Pakistan vs South Africa D3

Monday, October 20 2003

The 1st Test between Pakistan and South Africa is very evenly poised after 3 days play.

Pakistan definitely had the upper hand coming into the day's play, sitting as they were on 275-4, just 45 behind, and with 2 of their bright young stars, Shoaib Malik and debutant Asim Kamal, in the middle of a good partnership.

They were able to carry this stand to a total of 101, and Pakistan into the lead before the first wicket fell - Paul Adams bowling Malik for 47, his 3rd of the innings.

The recalled Moin Khan joined Kamal, and with still only 5 wickets down, Pakistan were looking to get a large lead, but the bowling was tight, and runs came slowly until Kamal got to 99 and his nerve failed him - Andre Nel produced a good delivery to bowl him, and he ended agonisingly away from a debut ton!

It was 363-6, but the length of the tail could be summed up by the fact that it was Shoaib Akhtar who came into bat at number 8, perhaps 2 places higher than he should be!

With a long tail and a helpful wicket, Adams was in heaven, and he picked up 2 wickets in 3 balls almost immediately, Akhtar stumped and Mohammed Sami clean bowled. Suddenly 3 wickets had gone down for 3 runs, and the lead was only 46.

Experienced leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, in his first Test Match for 2 and a half years (21 games) came out at number 10, and resisted for more than three-quarters of an hour with Khan in adding 35 runs to boost the side to 401 before Adams took 2 wickets in 3 balls for the second time in an hour as he finished with career-best figures of 7-128 from 45 probing overs.

Facing a deficit of 81, and with Gary Kirsten's participation in doubt, South Africa needed a solid opening stand, but captain Graeme Smith again fell fairly early as Taufeeq Umar took a smart catch off Shoaib with the score on 43. Since the heights of Lord's, Smith has come back to ground with a bump, scoring just 138 runs in his last 8 innings.

With Kirsten absent, the in-form Boeta Dippenaar was promoted to number 3, and he coped well, along with Herschelle Gibbs in adding an unbroken 56 before bad light ended play 18 minutes early with South Africa 99-1, a lead of 18 with 2 full days to play.

This match is close, and the first session tomorrow will be crucial, if the South Africans get away with losing at most 1 or 2 wickets, they will be well in control, but if the triple spin attack get an early sniff, collapse could be imminent.

Posted by Marc