CAPE TOWN – Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed hit a spirited half-century butcould not prevent South Africa’s fast bowlers taking control on the firstday of the second Test at Newlands on Thursday.
South Africa’s decision to pick an all-pace attack paid dividends with allthe bowlers picking up wickets as Pakistan were dismissed out for 177 afterbeing sent in on a hard, green-tinged pitch.
Duanne Olivier followed up a match-winning performance in the first Test inCenturion by taking four for 48, while Dale Steyn took three for 48.
Sarfraz made 56 after coming in with his team in danger of a total collapseat 54 for five. Looking to counter-attack at every opportunity, Sarfraz puton 60 for the sixth wicket with Shan Masood (44) and 42 for the seventhwicket with Mohammad Amir (22 not out).
Sarfraz hit nine fours in an 81-ball innings.
Pakistan were nine wickets down at the scheduled tea break, which wasdelayed by 14 minutes until the last wicket fell.
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Pakistan lost their first three wickets for 19 runs, Steyn making the firstbreakthrough when Fakhar Zaman fended a bouncer to gully to be out for onein the fifth over.
Imam-ul-Haq was leg before wicket to the returning Vernon Philander foreight before Azhar Ali fell to a short ball, fending a lifting deliveryfrom Olivier to first slip after scoring two.
Shan Masood, batting at number three, watched four of his teammates losetheir wickets before he and Sarfraz came together in the best partnershipof the innings. – APP / AFP
