Pakistan strike late in Lahore

A double-breakthrough deep into the evening session gave Pakistan a slender advantage over South Africa on the first day of the second Test in Lahore. In a see-saw affair, the tourists continually lost wickets just as they looked to have gained full control over the Pakistani bowling, much improved from its dour performance in Karachi.

None of the dismissed batsmen fell for single figures, yet neither could any muster more than Ashwell Prince’s 63. However, the loss of Prince in the last half hour of play and, more decisively, that of AB de Villiers – run out for 45 – shifted the balance towards Pakistan. The Proteas closed on 259-6, with only Mark Boucher and the tail to come.

After last year’s run-fest between India and Pakistan, there was little surprise in Graeme Smith’s decision to bat after winning the toss. Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif however stuck early, removing Herschelle Gibbs and Hashim Amla cheaply and it was left to Smith and the tireless Jacques Kallis to shore up the breach.

Smith fell, four short of a half-century, shortly after lunch to the legspin of Danish Kaneria, but Kallis anchored the innings throughout a testing afternoons session, with the Pakistani slow bowlers operating tidily in tandem.

Kallis, on the back of twin hundreds in South Africa’s first Test victory, eventually completed a gritty 115-ball 59, but when he was trapped leg before by Kaneria, South Africa were struggling at 160-4. Prince and de Villiers repaired much of the damage, but two late lapses in concentration means that Pakistan will fancy their chances of dismissing South Africa for a below-par score tomorrow morning.

South Africa 259-6 (83 overs)
Jacques Kallis 59, Ashwell Prince 63