Late Proteas strikes even out day two of Dubai Test
The second day of the first Test evened out as South African bounced back strongly in the final session after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 had dominated proceedings for most part of an action packed day of cricket at Dubai’s International stadium.
The Pakistanis were pegged back after a bright start to their innings by the spirited South Africans, and ended the day at 144 for two wickets, still 236 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 380.
The day started ominously for Pakistan as the South Africans were in a position of considerable strength when they started at their overnight score of 311 for three wickets.
The Pakistanis tightened the screws and did not allow the Proteas to score runs at a canter as they did on the opening day.
They were rewarded when Umar Gul who was the lone fast bowler left after Wahab Riaz pulled out due to a side strain, struck some crucial blows.
Gul broke through the resistance of night watchman Paul Harris who was smartly caught by Younis Khan in the slips for a duck.
Gul then produced the ball of the match thus far by knocking over the stumps over of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 as he prodded forward and a sharp in swinger went through his defences.
The right hander scored just five runs. The South Africans had more trouble coming their way when left hander Ashwell Prince was caught in front of the stumps and given out leg-before-wicket off Umar Gul.
Prince scored one run; Gul had a dream opening spell and claimed 3 wickets to knock over the middle-order.
The Pakistani bowling onslaught continued as left arm spinner Abdul Rehman accounted for Mark Boucher trapping him lbw with a straighter one.
Soon afterwards the batting mainstay, Jacques Kallis, perished when he nicked a straighter one from Saeed Ajmal into the gloves of debutant wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722 out lbw off Saeed Ajmal for a 10 runs also.
Pakistani openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar, who were both making a comeback in the Test arena after a long absence, looked assured and got their team off to a blazing start.
Hafeez was in belligerent form thrashing the opening bowlers with aplomb playing some delightful drives, cuts and pulls.
He reached his half century off 58 balls, but went into his shell after reaching the milestone. The right hander was bogged down by the probing spin bowling of Paul Harris and Johan Botha, and perished when he attempted to break the shackles.
He was caught by Graeme Smith for 60-runs. He added 105 runs with Taufeeq for the opening wicket. Shortly afterward, the South Africans also picked up Taufeeq Umar who was trapped LBW by Morne Morkel for 42-runs.
The new pair of Younis Khan and Azhar Ali survived some anxious moments in the last few minutes of play; Younis was hit on the head by bouncer by Morkel. However he was not-out on 21 when stumps were drawn for the day.
His partner Azhar Ali was also defiant at the other end remaining not out for 12 runs off 62 balls.
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