Pakistan makes inroads on day one of Abu Dhabi Test
Pakistan has made a good start on day one of the Second Test match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, after debutant pacer Tanvir Ahmed rocked the Proteas with three quick wickets in Abu Dhabi.
The veteran Kuwait-born pacer who had been cooling his heels on the side-lines ever since the start of the year, when he was overlooked for the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, made full use of the opportunity he eventually got at the age of 32.
Tanvir was the leading wicket taker in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first class competition last season, when he snapped up more than 80 wickets in an outstanding bowling effort, which ensured his Karachi team captured the coveted title.
Pakistan’s captain Misbah-Ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bowl first at another brand new Test venue. The Sheikh Zayed stadium became the 103rd venue to host Test cricket.
The Pakistanis made the most of the sticky wicket, which had a tinge of grass and moisture in it, to send three top order South African batsmen packing in an action packed session.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, the series designated home team, made three changes to the side that drew the first Test in Dubai last week.
Batsman Umar Akmal was replaced by Asad Shafiq, the talented right hander from Karachi, who is making his Test debut.
Besides him Tanvir and pacer Mohammad Sami replaced the injured Wahab Riaz and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal respectively.
Interestingly the three players that came into the side, all play for Karachi in domestic cricket. The first wicket to fall was Alviro Petersen, who edged the third ball from Tanvir Ahmed into the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, who took a sharp catch at first slip.
Petersen was dismissed for only 2-runs, making Tanvir the sixth bowler in Pakistan’s Test history to take a wicket in his first over.
The next to go was Hashim Amla, who was extremely unlucky to have been adjudged caught behind off Tanvir Ahmed. The ball moved viciously into the batsman and appeared to have hit his thigh pad, yet umpire Asoka De Silva raised his finger.
Amla, who scored an unbeaten hundred in the first Test match in Dubai, departed after scoring just 4-runs.
South African captain Graeme Smith, who faced 20-balls before scoring his first run, hit a couple of boundaries but his jitteriness eventually got the better of him.
Smith edged a ball that seamed away to wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal, giving Tanvir his third wicket of the morning. Smith scored 10-runs off 33-balls.
Jacques Kallis and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 then rescued their team with an attacking partnership that took the score to 114 for three at lunch.
Kallis was unbeaten on 57 while De Villiers is batting on 33, a knock that includes six boundaries.
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