Daily Cricket News

1st Test: SA lead Pak by 271 runs at stumps

Dubai: South Africa's Morne Morkel and Johan Botha ran through Pakistan's brittle line-up to bowl them out for 248 on the third day of the first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. The Proteas were 139-2 in their second innings after taking a first-innings lead of 132.

Morkel polished off the tail to end with five wickets after Botha's three started the slide.

at stumps, Hashim Amla on 44 and Jacques Kallis on 32 were at the crease.

Earlier, resuming at 144-2, Azhar Ali (56) and Younis Khan (35) took their third-wicket partnership to 65 runs but once Khan left, others followed in playing rash shots.

Earlier, resuming at 144-2, Azhar Ali (56) and Younis Khan (35) took their third-wicket partnership to 65 runs but Khan departed playing a shot to midwicket where AB de Villiers took a brilliant catch.

Stand-in captain Misbah-ul-Haq failed to keep a ball down and was caught by Hashim Amla at short leg. Umar Akmal, who only got a chance to play because captain Mohammed Yousuf sustained a groin injury, also did not show the inclination to stay at the wicket. He came down the wicket but managed to get a thick edge that carried to Dale Steyn at point.

At tea, Pakistan was on 214-5.

However, the rest of the batting lineup continued to play rash shots and lasted only ten overs into the final session of the day. Their last eight wickets fell for 72 runs. Ali brought up a laborious 144-ball half-century, his second in a six-test career, as wickets kept falling at the other end.

He was well-caught by Amla again at short leg as he failed to fend off a short-pitched delivery from Morkel, who was bowling around the wicket and was warned for running on to the pitch. Morkel ended with figures of 5-54 while Botha finished with 3-61.

For South Africa, openers Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith started off strongly with 47 runs before Petersen was trapped leg before on 26 on the last ball before tea.