October 11, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 28, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 10: Reckless batting by the Pakistani batsmen and fine all-round show from the South Africans were the contrasting highlights of the third day’s play of the second Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

A star-studded batting line-up comprising Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq disappointed their fans as Pakistan slumped to 206 all out in 63 overs in the first innings.

Resuming at their overnight score of 140-4 in reply to South Africa’s 357, the hosts, in a rather spineless display on the third day fell like nine pins. At stumps, South Africa had reached 154-2 in their second innings to further consolidate their position in the match.

Skipper Graeme Smith, crossing the 50-run mark for the first time in the series, led his team from the front with a well played 75. His unbroken third-wicket stand of 88 runs with the Proteas’ Mr Reliable, Jacque Kallis (37) could well prove a match-winning partnership here.

Smith’s knock was a treat to watch. The big man did not lose his composure despite watching two cheap dismissals at the opposite end, that of Herschelle Gibbs (16, two fours) and Hashim Amla (17, two fours) with the total at 66.

Gibbs, needlessly chasing a ball from Umar Gul that pitched outside the off stump, snicked it to Kamran Akmal with the score at 34. Leg-spinner Abdul Rehman then deceived Amla with a flighted delivery that shattered the stumps.

However, Smith and Kallis denied Pakistani bowlers any further success on the day. Treating every ball on merit, Smith defied the opposition for 233 minutes, cracking 11 elegant boundaries. Kallis, on the other hand, smashed three boundaries in yet another solid knock.

Pakistan, already one down in the series and short on bowling options, suffered a body blow when they lost medium-pacer Mohammad Asif to a nagging elbow injury as he left the field after bowling just four overs.

Team manager Talat Ali Malik said Asif’s availability for the remaining part of the series depended on the MRI test which will be conducted on Thursday morning.

Had Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik used himself as the fifth bowler after Asif’s ouster, he could have caused some problems for left-handed Smith. But surprisingly he did not bowl a single over in the day and the burden was mainly shared by Kaneria (21 overs), Abdul Rehman (18) and Umar Gul (12).

Earlier in the day, Pakistan resumed their innings with veteran Inzamam-ul-Haq and dashing Misbah-ul-Haq. A lot depended on the two players and also on skipper Malik but all hopes of a rearguard action were dashed as the home side lost their last six wickets for just 66 runs.

Inzamam, playing his last Test match, failed to find his feet and was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Kallis for 14 with the total at 149.

Captain Shoaib Malik, in a rare lack of judgement, lost his wicket for just one to a fast rising delivery from pacer Dale Styen which was easily caught by Amla at forward short-leg. Misbah alongwith Abdur Rehman tried his best to defy the odds as they put on 39 for the seventh wicket before Ntini snapped up three quick wickets in one over to rip the hosts apart.

He dismissed Misbah 41 (six fours, 91 balls) caught behind and on the very next delivery, trapped Umar leg before and removed Kaneria on the fifth ball of the same over to give Boucher his 400th victim. Boucher had broken the record of 395 dismissal of Australian’s Ian Healy in Karachi. With Kaneria dismissal Pakistan went for lunch.

Paul Harris wrapped up Pakistan innings soon after lunch, sending back Asif, caught by Amla for four. Ntini and Harris finished with three wickets each for 42 and 57 runs.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 357 (A.G. Prince 63, J.H. Kallis 59, M.V. Boucher 54; Danish Kaneria 4-114).

PAKISTAN (1st Innings, overnight 140-4):

Salman Butt c Smith b Harris 40

Kamran Akmal c Smith b Harris 52

Younis Khan b Nel 3

Mohammad Yousuf lbw b Steyn 25

Inzamam-ul-Haq c Boucher b Kallis 14

Misbah-ul-Haq c Boucher b Ntini 41

Shoaib Malik c Amla b Steyn 1

Abdul Rehman not out 25

Umar Gul lbw b Ntini 0

Danish Kaneria c Boucher b Ntini 0

Mohammad Asif c Amla b Harris 4

EXTRAS (LB-1) 1

TOTAL (all out, 63 overs) 206

FAL OF WKTS: 1-90, 2-93, 3-99, 4-123, 5-149, 6-150, 7-189, 8-189, 9-189.

BOWLING: Ntini 8-1-42-3, Steyn 12-3-60-2, Nel 16-3-39-1, Harris 20-5-57-3, Kallis 7-2-7-1.

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings):

G.C. Smith not out 75

H.H. Gibbs c Kamran b Umar Gul 16

H.M. Amla b Rehman 17

J.H. Kallis not out 37

EXTRAS (B-8, NB-1) 9

TOTAL (for two wkts, 55 overs) 154

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-66.

BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Asif 4-1-14-0; Umar Gul 12-2-40-1 (1nb); Danish Kaneria 21-4-54-0; Abdul Rehman 18-3-38-1.