A four-wicket haul by Noman Ali helped Pakistan gain advantage as South Africa were reduced to 216-6 at the close of play on the second day of the first test match at the Gaddafi stadium here on Monday.
South Africa are 162 runs behind Pakistan with three days to go.
On a day of fluctuating fortunes 11 wickets fell and all were claimed by the spinners. First session of the day was dominated by South Africa as they claimed the five wickets and restricted Pakistan to 378 while second and thirds sessions saw South Africa lose six wickets – all to spinners Noman Ali, Hasan Ali and Salman Agha – by the close of play.
Ryan Rickelton 71 (137) and Toni de Zorzi scored half centuries and were involved in a crucial partnership of 64 runs for the third wicket as they had taken the team away from the scare of follow-on. Rickelton hit nine boundaries and two 6s in his innings before he fell to a brilliant catch by Babar Azam in the slip off Salman Agha. Zorzi returned unbeaten as he played a responsible knock of 81 laced with nine boundaries and one six.
South Africa had a good opening start of 45 runs before stand-in captain Aiden Markram 20 (37) fell to Noma Ali’s left-arm spin. Wiaan Mulder 17 (41) was also snared by Noman Ali. Rickelton’s dismissal proved vital as South Africa lost their way somewhat by the end of the day. Talented Dewald Brevis fell without scoring to an excellent ball from Sajid Khan while Tristan Stubbs 8 (7) lost his wicket early. Kyle Verreynne also became victim of superb ball from Noman Ali.
Senuran Muthusamy was unbeaten on 6 (19) at close of play on day two. Off the 67 overs of the South African innings, 58 were bowled by the spinners while nine were bowled between Shaheen Shah Afridi 5-3-15-0 and Hasan Ali 4-4-14-0 who remained wicketless. Noman Ali was the star for Pakistan as he claimed four wickets for 85 runs off 28 overs while Sajid Khan 24-2-73-1 and Salman Agha 7-2-21-1 claimed one wicket each.
Earlier in the day, a maiden 6-wicket haul by Senuran Muthusamy helped South Africa restrict Pakistan to 378-10 as the batters could only add 65 runs in 20.4 overs to the overnight score in the morning session of the first innings of the first test match on the second day at Gaddafi stadium here on Tuesday.
South Africa succeeded in their plans as wickets fell in clusters. Simon Harmer had claimed that they will target to restrict Pakistan under 380. “We need to rock up tomorrow and if we could restrict them to less than 380 tomorrow it will be a hell of a job. we did not get rub of the green but it was still a solid day”, he had added.
Wickets did fall in clusters as Pakistan lost three wickets at the same score twice and last two wickets also fell at 378.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha had started the day on 313-7 and added another 49 runs to the overnight score before Mohammad Rizwan fell to the wile of Muthusamy for 75 (140) after adding 13 runs to the last night’s individual score. Salman Agha fell in the 90s while trying to hoist the ball out of the park but was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Muthusamy off Subrayen who claimed his second wicket of the innings.
Salman Agha’s feeble hit could not cross the boundary and Pakistan could not cross the cherished 400 run mark. However, a 161 run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha was vital in the good fortunes of Pakistan.
In a second dramatic collapse of the innings Pakistan lost three consecutive wickets on the same score when Rizwan, Noman Ali 0 (0) and Sajid Ali fell to Muthusamy giving his maiden five-wicket haul in the match. Muthusamy was on a hat-trick when Afridi came in to bat.
However, Afridi managed to avert the hat-trick. Earlier, Pakistan had lost three consecutive wickets of Imam 93 (153), Saud 0 (0) and Babar Azam 23 (48).
Shaheen Afridi, though avoided the hat-trick against Muthusamy, but fell unnecessarily to Muthusamy which gave the left-arm orthodox spinner his career best figures of 117-6. Muthusamy rightly filled in the boots of Keshiv Maharaj.
Senuran Muthusamy emerged the most successful bowler for the Proteas and snared six wickets haul of 117-6 including back-to-back wickets of Imam ul Haq and Saud Shakeel and later Noman Ali and Sajid Khan off his 32 overs. Simon Harmer claimed the prized scalp of Babar Azam for 101 runs off 33 overs. Rabada picked one wicket of Abdullah Shafique and conceded 56 runs off his 17 overs. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder conceded 13 runs off the unsuccessful two overs while Prenelek Subrayen added one more wickets to his last nights and returned figures of 78-2 off 25.4 overs.
Aiden Markram had bowled a single over last evening for six runs.