CENTURION: Pakistan fought back after being bowled out for 181 as bowlersdominated on the first day of the first Test against South Africa atSuperSport Park on Wednesday.
Duanne Olivier took six for 37 as the hosts subjected Pakistan to anonslaught of aggressive, short-pitched bowling.
South Africa struggled in reply, reaching 127 for five at the close, withleft-armers Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi both taking two wickets.
Teenager Afridi struck with successive deliveries, dismissing Dean Elgarand captain Faf du Plessis as South Africa lost three wickets withoutscoring a run to sink to 43 for four.
Theunis de Bruyn (29) and Temba Bavuma (38 not out) seemed to be regainingthe ascendancy for South Africa as they added 69 for the fifth wicket butDe Bruyn was caught behind off Amir late in the day to leave the matchevenly poised.
— Consistently hostile —
Olivier, effectively South Africa’s fifth-choice fast bowler, gained hissixth Test cap following injuries to Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi. Hewas consistently hostile, especially in a seven-over spell after lunch whenhe ripped through Pakistan’s middle order, taking three for 17.
Olivier stole the limelight for South Africa on a day when Dale Steynbecame South Africa’s leading all-time wicket-taker.
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Steyn took the second wicket of the match, having Fakhar Zaman caught atsecond slip, to claim the South African record with 422 Test scalps but hadno further success. He was punished for 40 runs in four overs in his thirdspell of the day as Babar Azam went on the attack while batting with thetail. Azam hit 10 of his 15 fours off Steyn, who finished with one for 66.
Azam made a defiant 71 off 79 balls on a pitch already showing signs ofuneven bounce. Hasan Ali (21) supported Azam in a ninth wicket stand of 67,easily the best of the innings.
Olivier’s first victim was Shan Masood, who was playing in place of HarisSohail, who suffered a knee injury during the pre-match warm-up. Masoodlooked competent as he and Azhar Ali put on 37 for the third wicket beforea lifting delivery deflected off his thigh pad onto the stumps. Olivierfollowed up by trapping Asad Shafiq leg before wicket before he took thewickets of Azhar Ali, captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir after thebreak.
South Africa lost Aiden Markram early, leg before to Hasan Ali, but Elgarand Hashim saw off some tight bowling by Hasan and Mohammad Amir. Theadvantage seemed to be shifting when Elgar hit three boundaries offsuccessive balls from Hasan.
Amir returned to the attack after a short break and had Amla caught atgully for eight, the latest in a string of low scores by the veteranbatsman.
Tall left-armer Afridi, 18, playing in his second Test, followed up in thenext over when Elgar was caught at first slip, trying to withdraw his bat,and Du Plessis was greeted by a ball which reared off a good length and hewas caught at gully. The South African captain looked suspiciously at thepitch before departing. – APP/AFP
