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| January 15, 2007 | Monday | Zilhaj 24, 1427 |
Proteas close to victory after Pakistan tail wags
CENTURION (South Africa), Jan 14: South Africa were on course for victory despite aggressive resistance from Pakistan's tail-end batsmen and the late loss of their captain Graeme Smith on the fourth day of the first Test at Centurion Park Sunday.
Needing 199 to win, South Africa were 69 for two at the close.
Part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez struck a blow for Pakistan in the last over of the day when he trapped Smith leg before wicket for 32.
It left the host nation with another 130 to get on the final day with eight wickets standing to take the lead in the three-match series.
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris took four for 46 as Pakistan were bowled out for 302 in their second innings, with the last three wickets adding 103 runs.
Harris and seamer Shaun Pollock bowled with tight control as Pakistan were reduced to 199 for seven – a slender lead of 95.
Smith opted for the new ball to blast out the tail but the decision heralded a period of batting mayhem in which fast bowlers Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini were thrashed to all parts of the ground.
Ignoring the niceties of technique and resorting to old-fashioned slogging, Shahid Nazir slammed a career-best 40 off 35 balls as he and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan put on 56 for the eighth wicket before Shahid swung once too often and was bowled by Ntini.
Naved and Danish Kaneria carried on meting out punishment to the bowlers, scoring 33 and 23 respectively before Smith called back Harris, who finished the innings with his second delivery.
Harris at one stage conceded only six runs in nine overs as Pakistan found it difficult to score during the afternoon.
Playing in his second Test, Harris made a breakthrough shortly before lunch when he had Imran Farhat caught at silly mid-off for 68.
He followed up with the wickets of Faisal Iqbal, who drove a catch to cover, and Kamran Akmal, who tried to break the shackles imposed by Harris.
Kamran hit two successive fours off the spin bowler but then top-edged a sweep to short fine leg.
Pollock claimed the crucial wicket of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with the help of a diving catch by A.B. de Villiers at midwicket. Inzamam made 35.
South Africa dropped four catches, with wicket-keeper Mark Boucher the culprit twice.
The left-handed Imran, who survived a difficult chance to gully when he had seven on Saturday, took most of the morning to advance from his overnight 41 but he was lucky to survive. Without adding to his score, he edged Ntini to Jacques Kallis at second slip, with the ball reaching the fielder on the half-volley.On 47 Imran was dropped by Boucher off Ntini when the keeper dived in front of first slip Smith. Boucher later could not hold a leaping chance from Faisal off Kallis but it was not expensive as Faisal added only three more runs before driving Harris to cover.
Imran batted for 261 minutes, faced 167 balls and hit 10 fours.
De Villiers was soon out as South Africa started their chase but Smith and Hashim Amla put on 47 for the second wicket before Hafeez claimed Smith's wicket.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 313 (Younis Khan 68, Yasir Hameed 65; M. Ntini 5-83).
SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 417 (A.G. Prince 139, H.H. Gibbs 94, H.M. Amla 71; Mohammad Asif 5-89).
PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 103-2):
Mohammad Hafeez c Smith b Kallis 15
Imran Farhat c De Villiers b Harris 68
Yasir Hameed c Boucher b Kallis 9
Younis Khan lbw b Pollock 38
Inzamam-ul-Haq c De Villiers b Pollock 35
Faisal Iqbal c Gibbs b Harris 9
Kamran Akmal c Gibbs b Harris 15
Rana Naved ul-Hasan c Prince b Pollock 33
Shahid Nazir b Ntini 40
Danish Kaneria c Gibbs b Harris 23
Mohammad Asif not out 8
EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-4) 9
TOTAL (all out, 96.2 overs) 302
FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-58, 3-115, 4-154,
5-175, 6-187, 7-199, 8-255, 9-283.
BOWLING: Nel 22-6-69-0; Ntini 16-2-78-1; Pollock 22-7-60-3 (1nb); Kallis 16-0-44-2 (3nb); Harris 20.2-6-46-4.
SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):
G.C. Smith lbw b Hafeez 32
A.B. de Villiers c Younis b Asif 12
H.M. Amla not out 17
P.L. Harris not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-6) 7
TOTAL (for two wkts, 18 overs) 69
FALL OF WKTS: 1-20, 2-67.
BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Asif 7-0-32-1 (5nb); Rana Naved ul-Hasan 2-0-9-0 (1nb); Shahid Nazir 2-1-5-0; Danish Kaneria 5-1-14-0, Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-8-1.—AFP
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