Daily Cricket News

1st Test: Pak fight back after SA collapse

Dubai: Umar Gul led an impressive fightback by Pakistan to limit South Africa to just 380 on Saturday and put on 144-2 in their first innings on the second day of the first test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

At stumps, Younis Khan (21 not out) and Azhar Ali (12 not out) were at the crease after Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez (60) and Taufeeq Umar (42) put on 105 runs. The latter fell in quick succession but it was a still good comeback from Pakistan after Gul and the spinners had sparked a Proteas collapse.

Proteas started the day strong at 311-3 but but the last eight wickets fell for the addition of 73 runs.

Gul started the slide with three quick wickets while spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal chipped in with two each for the day.

Pakistan was without fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who could not take the field due to a side strain.

South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who scored 73 and became the fifth-highest run-getter on Friday, had 11,126 runs and 266 wickets in tests compared to the Pakistan team's aggregate of 10,363 runs and 167 wickets before the start of this test.

Umar and Hafeez, however, started the run chase in a positive fashion by taking on Dale Steyn in the first over. A straight drive by Umar for three runs and two cover drives from Hafeez in the next two balls set the tone of their partnership. Hafeez also hit Morne Morkel's next for two more boundaries.

Hafeez reached his fifty in 58 balls with seven fours but got out trying to force the pace when the spinners managed to curb the initial free flow of runs. Trying to step out to Paul Harris and hit over the top of mid-on, Hafeez holed out to Graeme Smith. Soon after, Morkel trapped Umar leg before on the back pad.

Earlier, Gul started the slide with three quick wickets while spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal chipped in with two each for the day.

Gul sent back nightwatchman Paul Harris along with subsequent batsmen AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince in an eight-over spell that read three wickets for 15 runs.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman claimed Mark Boucher in his first over of the day and followed it up with the wicket of Johan Botha. In between the two dismissals, Kallis got impatient and tried to cut off-spinner Saeed Ajmal but only manage to find an edge on the way to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal. Ajmal finished off by trapping Morkel leg before.