2nd Test, Day 1: Younis, Shafiq slam tons, Pakistan 253/5

Live score and live updates of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and South Africa.

Zeenews Sports Bureau

SCORECARD» I COMMENTARY» ==================================================================================== Brief Summary The hosts would have thought that the tail-enders would hit the ground soon when Pakistan were left reeling at 33/4. But Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq stitched an exceptional partnership under critical circumstances and the Proteas had to wait for the day to end for another celebration. It was a fantastic knock from the Younis Khan (111) at a time when the Proteas bowling attack was once again spitting fire. Shafiq looked a little shaky initially, but got the better of his nerves later on and reconstructed the innings beautifully with Younis. He remained unbeaten on 111. The first session tomorrow in going to be an important one. The Proteas will be all charged up, so will be Dale Steyn. ==================================================================================== STUMPS, DAY 1: Pakistan 253/5 Philander dismissed Younis Khan off the last ball of the 88th over. The ball nipped in and hit Younis on the pads, the entire Proteas camp appealed but the umpire wasn’t interested. Smith reviewed and the DRS showed that there was an edge, so Younis was declared Out- Caught Behind. It ended the 219-run partnership between Younis and Shafiq. ==================================================================================== Younis, Shafiq slams tons; New Ball taken Needless to say, these two have played superbly throughout the day. Younis Khan worked Elgar’s ball towards deep square leg for two runs which brought his 21st Test ton. In Elgar’s next over, Asad Shafiq was offered some width and he dispatched that for a boundary that brought his third Test ton. After the top-order collapse, this reconstruction has been outstanding. Here is the new ball, here is Dale Steyn. ==================================================================================== Shafiq, Younis put on 150 stand; Pakistan 183/4 Asad Shafiq (80*) and Younis Khan (79*) have put on an unbeaten 150-run stand to stabilise the Pakistan innings which were reeling at 33/4 at one stage. Both the batsmen broke free during the post tea session after they completed their fifties just before the break. They took a special liking for Peterson’s left-arm spin, hitting him for boundaries and over boundaries. After 71 overs, Pakistan were 183/4 and both the batsmen were looking good to score three figure marks. ==================================================================================== Younis, Shafiq hits 50s; Pakistan 133/4 at tea Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq completed their fifties as Pakistan look to post respectable total in the first innings. Shafiq really played well for his half-century which was constructed off 115 balls with six elegant boundaries. His senior partner Younis Khan also completed a hard-fought but well-deserved fifty with 4 fours and a six off left-arm spinner Robin Petersen, who could not trouble any of the batsmen and went for almost 4 runs per over. At tea, Pakistan were 133/4 with Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq remaining unbeaten on 54 and 50, respectively. It was a good session for Pakistan as they scored 77 runs without losing a single wicket. ==================================================================================== Shafiq, Younis fight on Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan continued to fight as they took the score to hundred in 46.2 overs. After 50 overs, South Africa were 110/4 with the pair involved in an unbeaten 77-run stand. Shafiq was unbeaten on 45 while Yunis was not out on 41. Shafiq’s was a more elegant innings in comparison to Khan’s. ==================================================================================== Shafiq, Younis grind hard After losing four wickets pretty early (33/4), Yunis Khan (27*) and Asad Shafiq (20*) showed a plenty of courage and determination to fight against a blood-thirsty pace attack of South Africa and ensured that Pakistan did not lose further wicket and face the similar ignominy of the first innings of the first Test. Unlike the previous batsmen of their side, they did not try to be flashy. They, rather, cut down on their strokes and took the unfashionable route of Test cricket of grinding and took the team to 74/4 after 39 overs during the post lunch session. ==================================================================================== Lunch Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq have added unbeaten 27 runs for the fifth wicket. At Lunch Pakistan are 60/4. Pakistan would want this pair to build a strong partnership from here onwards as they are in dire need of it. ==================================================================================== Morkel takes Misbah After taking the wicket of Azhar Ali, Morne Morkel came up with a scorching bouncer in the same over that even the experienced Misbah-ul-Haq could not handle properly and was caught at short-leg for a duck. Pakistan were really struggling at 33/4 and it’s not even lunch yet! ==================================================================================== Morkel joins wicket-taking party After Steyn and Philander, it was the time for Morne Morkel to join the wicket-taking party. Azhar Ali played one lose stroke off an outside the off-stump delivery and nicked it to the wicketkeeper. Ali made 4 off 21 balls. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq joined Yunis Khan in the middle and both have a tough task of pulling their team out of the woods. ==================================================================================== Steyn guns down Hafeez Dale Steyn’s brilliance came to fore once again when he dismissed Mohammad Hafeez with a perfect outswinger that landed in the middle-stump area and viciously swung away. Hafeez, who tried to defend from the crease, could do nothing but to watch the ball taking the outside edge of his bat and went to the first slip where skipper Graeme Smith completed a regulation catch. Hafeez made 17. Pakistan, who were 21/2 after 12 overs, lost two wickets in two consecutive overs. It looked like it would be an another testing Test for the Pakistan batsmen, who didn’t look very comfortable against the South African pace merchants. ==================================================================================== Philander draws first blood Vernon Philander drew the first blood for South Africa when he removed left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed for 3. The batsman, who was dropped one ball earlier, could not utilise the life. The bowler kept one up which took the outside edge of Jamshed’s bat and went to the wicketkeeper De Villers, who took a neat catch behind the wickets. His departure brought talented Azhar Ali into the crease. Mohammad Hafeez, however, looked solid so far against Steyn and Philander, who were bowling probing line and length. South Africa were 21/1 after 11 overs. ==================================================================================== Hafeez & Jamshed ready to face Steyn & Co. Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed came to open for the Pakistan team while it's fiery Dale Steyn and wily Vernon Philander who took the new ball for the South Africans. ==================================================================================== Toss South Africa have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan in the second Test being played at Newlands. ==================================================================================== Team News South Africa have gone with an unchanged squad while Pakistan have included Tanvir Ahmed and Mohammad Irfan in place of injured Junaid Khan and Rahat Ali. ==================================================================================== Preview After having won the first Test comprehensively, South Africa would like to dominate the second Test against Pakistan that starts on Thursday. South Africa’s four-man pace attack consisted of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis wrecked havoc on the Pakistan batsmen and bowled them out for a meagre 49 in the first innings of the first Test. Though Pakistan bowlers bowled well in patches, their batsmen were in complete disarray against a quality pace attack on a hard and bouncy pitch. If the tourists have to do well in the second Test, they need to bat really good against the best pace bowling attack in the world. Only time will tell that whether they will be able to do that on a little bit easier Newlands pitch. ==================================================================================== Teams: South Africa (Playing XI): Graeme Smith(c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers(w), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Irfan