Zeenews Sports Bureau
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Brief Summary
Even the world class top-order couldn’t tackle Saeed Ajmal who once again displayed why he is currently the most threatening spinner in the world. The Proteas batting line-up boasts of players like Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and the legendary Jacques Kallis. But they all were on their back foot today and couldn’t do much. There are rare moments when you spend your night thinking about ways to combat against a spinner the next morning. AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar would certainly be going through the same phase.
And I am sure you all would want to have a look at Ajmal's figures 25-8-41-5
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STUMPS: South Africa 139/5, trail by 199 runs with 5 wickets in hand
That ends Saeed Ajmal’s day. AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar stitched a 30-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Elgar would consider himself luck after surviving another gem from Ajmal towards the close of play. Saeed Ajmal was the star of the show and it looked like the Test was being played between South Africa and Ajmal. The hosts have a job up on their hands and they would have to come up with a miraculous strategy to tackle Ajmal on the third Day.
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Ajmal scalps Kallis; SA in trouble at 105/4
So the DRS has brought yet another interesting incident before us. Ajmal bowled a similar delivery that dismissed Amla, it landed outside off and spun sharply hitting Kallis on the pads which was also caught. The umpired immediately thought it was out. Kallis then reviewed it as he felt he hadn’t nicked the ball. The DRS showed that he hadn’t but then the hawkeye showed that the ball spun into him and was clipping the leg stump. Kallis was then given out lbw after which Kallis and du Plessis had a good chat with the umpire as he asked him what kind of dismissal it was as he was sure he hadn’t nicked it. Steve Davis once again had a chat with the third umpire after which Kallis had to drag himself out of the ground!
So Ajmal has laid a spinning web at the Newlands, Cape Town, and the Proteas are perishing in a hurry.
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Ajmal foxes Amla; gets wicket No. 3
Saeed Ajmal got the big wicket when he plumbed Hashim Amla in front of the wickets with a faster ball that came back sharply and hit him below his knee. Amla was looking good for his 60-ball-25 (3 fours). He was tackling Ajmal, who has taken all three wickets to fall so far, well before succumbing to his guile. South Africa were 85/3 after 32 overs with Saeed Ajmal looking unplayable at times. Meanwhile, good news for Proteas fans as Jacques Kallis looked to be fit as he came to the pitch to join Faf du Plessis (20*).
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SA look to stabilise through Amla; 65/2 at tea
Hashim Amla (17*) and Faf du Plessis (3*) negotiated Saeed Ajmal quiet well so far as South Africa went to tea at 65/2. They ensured that the hosts did not lose any wicket after Ajmal plucked two openers-skipper Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen- in quick succession. Amla looked assured against Ajmal’s guile and, along with Faf du Plessis, gave South African innings a little sense of stability after two quick wickets.
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Ajmal gets Petersen; SA lose 2nd wicket
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal continued to trouble the South African batsmen. After getting Smith, he took the wicket of opener Alviro Petersen after inducing an inside edge from his bat which clipped his pad and went to the forward short-leg area, where Azhar Ali took an excellent catch diving forward. It will be a tough day for the South African batsmen if they can’t play Ajmal properly. South Africa were 50/2 after 18 overs.
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Ajmal draws 1st blood; removes Smith
Saeed Ajmal drew the first blood for Pakistan as he removed South African skipper Graeme Smith trapping him in front of the wickets. Smith who tried to sweep one straight delivery from Ajmal was struck on his pad. The bowler appealed for an LBW decision which the umpire first rejected. From a first look, it seemed as the ball was sliding towards leg-side. That’s the reason Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was not in favour of reviewing this one but Ajmal was adamant. His skipper finally had to give in and it was found in review that Ajmal was right, the ball would have hit the top of his middle and leg stumps. The umpire revised his decision. Smith had to leave after scoring 19 (38 balls, 2 fours). Hashim Amla joined Alviro Petersen (11*) in the middle. After 14 overs, South Africa were 38/1.
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Proteas openers start well
After bowling Pakistan out for 338 in the first innings just before lunch break, South African openers-Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen- gave them a solid start as they reached 33 without any loss in 12 overs. Umar Gul bowled well early in his spell and came close to getting a wicket when he induced an outside edge from Smith’s bat but Younis Khan floored an easy catch at the second slip.
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Tail wags as Pakistan post 338 in 1st innings
Tailenders Tanvir Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal stitched together a fighting 64-run stand to ensure that Pakistan were not bowled out below 300. Both the batsmen showed tremendous fighting spirit in the morning session against a rampaging South Africa pace attack, especially against Philander, who was breathing fire after getting another five-for of his career. When the bowler removed Umar Gul, Pakistan were reeling at 268/8 and on the verge of being wrapped up.
Tanvir Ahmed played really well for his 44 (59 balls with 4 fours)before being dismissed by Robin Petersen, who also took the last man Mohammad Irfan’s wicket to end the Pakistan innings for 338 just before lunch. Saeed Ajmal remained unbeaten on 21 off 65 balls with 3 hits to the fence. Lunch was taken immediately after Pakistan's innings got over.
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Tanvir, Ajmal take Pak past 300
Tanvir Ahmed (24*) and Saeed Ajmal (10*) put up a brave fight and helped Pakistan cross 300-run mark (310/8 after 103 overs), which in a point of time in the morning was looking impossible to achieve. They joined in the middle when the score was 268/8 but they ensured that Pakistan cross 300 without further loss of wickets.
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Philander gets five-for; Pakistan struggle to make 300
Vernon Philander took his 5th wicket of the innings when he trapped Umar Gul in front of the wickets for a duck. Pakistan were 268 for 8 and they were almost set to be all out before 300. It was a huge shock for the tourists which showed tremendous fightback yesterday in coming from 33/4 to ending the day at 253/5. They have so far lost 3 wickets in scoring just 15 runs.
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Petersen takes a stunner to remove Sarfraz
Alviro Petersen took a brilliant one-handed catch, diving to his left, at the 3rd slip off Vernon Philander to remove Pakistan stumper Sarfraz Ahmed for 13. This was Philander’s 4th wicket and he looked to be at his best in the morning session so far. Too much for the Pakistan lower-order, one can say! Pakistan were 267/7 and it seems that that they would be bundled out for less than 300.
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Philander strikes early on Day 2; Shafiq goes for 111
Vernon Philander struck very early on Day 2 as he picked up overnight centurion Asad Shafiq with a perfect outswinger in the second over of the day. Shafiq could not add any run to his overnight score of 111 as he nicked an outside of the off stump delivery which was smartly taken by Graeme Smith at first slip. Pakistan were 259/6. Since the ball second new ball is still very hard and all the proper batsmen back in the pavilion, they would find it very hard to post anything beyond 325 in the first innings.
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Play resumes on Day 2
Live updates on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and South Africa being played at Newlands, Cape Town.
Pakistan resume their day 2 proceedings on 253 for 5 with Asad Shafiq on 111*and Sarfraz Ahmed on O*. Shafiq would look to post a big one here as it's his performance which will decide their ultimate score.
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Preview
South Africa would like to remove overnight centurion Asad Shafiq (111*) as soon as possible on Day 2 and strict the Pakistan's first innings under 350. With the second new ball is just 10 overs' old, the hosts expect their pace battery to fire in the morning session.
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Day 1 Summary
The hosts would have thought that the tailenders 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 constructed the innings beautifully with Younis. He remained unbeaten on 111.
First Published: Friday, February 15, 2013, 13:35