Cricket Update: South Africa on top after De Villiers double ton in first innings
South Africa managed to receive the second day honours as AB devilliers made the highest individual total for his side. AB devilliers scored 278* as South Africa posted a huge first innings total on the second day. South Africa declared on 584-9 and in response
Pakistan made 59 for the loss of one wicket at close of the days play.
South Africa, on day one were 33-3 and were in a spot of bother. Rescue came from De Villiers and Kallis, who build a strong partnership in the middle to take South Africa’s total to a safe position. For Pakistan, it would take some genuine batting display
to give a decent answer to South Africa’s total. South Africa started the day from their overnight score of 311-5 and needed one strong partnership to reach a respectful total. De Villiers started the day on a positive note and never looked in any sort of
discomfort. Pakistan had another chance of dismissing South Africa quickly in the morning like the one we saw in the first test, but this time it was De Villiers who crafted an innings that was too much to take for Pakistan.
Earlier it was Kallis and De villiers who both contributed a partnership of 179 for the fourth wicket. It was yet another hundred from Kallis and it provided the Proteas with a solid foundation. On day three, Pakistan had to make sure that they get the vital
wickets of South Africa. De Villiers was patient in his approach earlier on but after an hour or so, he really came to terms with the Pakistani bowlers. He gained a lot of confidence and scored with a lot of freedom. Pakistan first dismissed Boucher when
the score was 341. It was the fifth wicket of the match for the young debutant Tanvir Ahmed. South Africa were 341-6 and it was looking South Africa would be dismissed for 400 or something. Foundation came in the shape of de Villiers as he managed to provide
the initiative to the Proteas with some delightful batting. De Villiers played with a lot of ease and was stroking the ball quite efficiently. Bowlers were not able to dictate terms to him as he managed to score at will. It was the highest score made by De
Villiers in Test cricket. He was well supported by other lower order players as they played the Pakistani bowlers with ease.
De Villiers contributed important partnerships with the lower order as these partnerships frustrated the Pakistanis to a great extent. Botha played a small innings of 12 before he was bowled of the bowling of Rehman. South Africa were 383-7 and things were
set for the bowlers to take the remaining three wickets. At that time the real frustration began for Pakistan as tail Enders along with the main architect, de Villiers were solid in their approach. De Villiers made up for his slow start when he started to
score boundaries more frequently. Pakistani bowlers were not effective in their effort to dismiss the remaining batsmen as both Steyn and De Villiers were scoring runs with ease and were easily placing the ball in gaps. De Villiers really played one memorable
innings as he comfortably placed the ball in gaps for singles. De Villiers and Steyn added useful 59 runs between them before Steyn was dismissed by the spinner Rehman. He made 27 useful runs and played some strong drives. Again contribution came from the
lower order when Harris added 19 important runs to the total. De Villiers struck couple of boundaries off Gul to reach his second double hundred before tea.
The Proteas could not have felt better as a record 10th wicket partnership stand between Morkel and De Villiers really helped them to gain advantage in the Test match. They broke the previous stand of 103 between Tuppy http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Owen-c80374 Smith and Sandy Bell
against England at Oval. Morkel scored a quick 35 with 5 boundaries. Impressive stroke play was witnessed from De villiers as he improvised the score to 584 with some lovely boundaries. After tea, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 decided to declare their innings on 584-9, posting
a competitive first innings total for Pakistan. Pakistani bowlers did bowl with some discipline early on but later on it was de Villiers who easily managed runs of their bowling. For Pakistan Tanvir Ahmed, who is playing his debut Test match, bowled with a
lot of heart and managed a 6 wicket haul. Sami also bowled well early on but did not have luck in his favour.
Pakistan started roughly, as they lost Hafeez in the first over. He was trapped leg before of the bowling of Steyn. The promising Azhar Ali was playing well and was beginning to show signs of another resilient innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 finished the day on 59-1 with
Taufeeq Umar (16*) and Azhar Ali (34*) still at the crease. Pakistan would be hoping their batsmen on third day would deliver the same performance as De Villiers provided for South Africa in the first innings.
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