http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 looks to build on after bowlers restricted the Proteas on the second day of the Test match
Pakistan moved to a steady position against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 at the end of the second day after their bowlers restricted the Proteas from scoring a big first innings total. Pakistan were in a good position at 144-2 at the end of the second day, with Younis
Khan and Azhar Ali at the crease.
South Africa after day 1 were 311-3 and were looking to make a good first innings total but all that was changed by a beautiful spell of bowling by Umar Gul, who took vital wickets at the start of the morning session. He was right on the money from
start and bowled in all the right areas, creating problems for the batsmen early on. South Africa resumed from their overnight score of 311-3, with Harris and Kallis still present in the middle.
Harris was first to go for South Africa when he was caught in the slips by Younis Khan, he failed to make a start to his innings. In the 99th over, Umar Gul struck again by dismissing the dangerous de Villiers with a beautiful
in swinger that came in a long distance to find its way to the stumps. Suddenly South Africa were 327 for 5 and were in a spot of bother. It was turning out to be an impressive spell from Umar Gul as he trapped Prince leg before for 1 in his next over. South
Africa were reduced to 329 for 6, and much was expected from Kallis and Boucher.
The Proteas were losing wickets quickly and it was turning out to be Pakistan’s morning. In 107th over South Africa lost its 7th wicket for 345 runs when Boucher was trapped leg before at the score of
9 off the bowling of Abdur Rehman.
All the hopes were now relying on Jacques Kallis and he was playing with a lot of maturity. On 73 Kallis edged one to the keeper of Ajmal's bowling and after his departure the tail-enders provided some resistance before South Africa were dismissed
for 380 after Lunch.
Umar Gul was the pick of the bowlers, as his opening spell demolished the South African hopes of a huge first innings total. Ajmal and Rehman were equally impressive with the ball as both of them picked vital wickets for their side providing great
support for Gul. South Africa lost 7 wickets for just 73 runs and it was a collapse which the Proteas did not expect as they were in the driving seat at the end of day 1. Ajmal took the important wicket of Kallis and bowled with a lot of variety. He was economical
in his spell giving just 95 runs off 35 overs with 2 wickets. Rehman also bowled with a lot of control and took 3 wickets.
For Pakistan it was a wonderful opportunity for the batsmen to have a good start to their innings in batting friendly conditions. Pakistani openers provided them with a confident start as both Taufeeq umar and Mohammad Hafeez were positive in their
approach and struck some delightful boundaries. Hafeez, particularly, was hitting a lot of boundaries as he made a quick 60 before he was caught by smith off the bowling of Harris.
Pakistan were 105 for 1 and had got just the start they would’ve been happy with. South Africa had another important breakthrough at the end of the days play when Taufeeq Umar was trapped leg before off the bowling of Morkel. He made a steady 42 runs
and struck 3 boundaries.
Pakistan were 111-2 in the 38th over with Azhar Ali and Younis khan providing the required stay at the wicket before the closing of the second day. Their score at the end of day 2 was 144-2 with Azhar Ali (12*) and Younis Khan
(21*) still there. For South Africa Morkel and Harris took one wicket each.
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