Welcome to our coverage of the first day of the third test between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
AB GUIDES SA TO TEA: AB
de Villiers propelled South Africa to 201 for five at tea on Friday on the
first day of the third test at Supersport Park in Centurion.
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AB de Villiers, on 41, will resume after tea with Robin
Peterson, who has 2.
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South Africa scored 97 in the early afternoon session, but
lost three wickets in 26 overs.
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Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers controlled the biggest part
of the early afternoon session with a 79-run partnership in 18 overs before
Amla was caught behind for 92 chasing a wide delivery by Rahat Ali.
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Amla was superb throughout his innings, hitting his 92 off
128 balls, with thirteen boundaries.
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Ali’s double-break in the last twenty minutes before the tea
break swung the pendulum in Pakistan’s favour, as he trapped Dean Elgar in
front shortly afterwards for 7 to leave South Africa on 196 for five.
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Amla and Faf du Plessis added 69 runs for the third wicket,
but their stubborn relationship was ended when Du Plessis, frustrated because
he could not get off the mark after lunch after fifteen deliveries, pushed at a
wide delivery and was caught behind off Ehsan Adil for 29.
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Adil, in his debut test, captured 2-39 in eight overs. Ali
was the pick of the attack and boasted 3-56 in thirteen overs.
PAKISTAN STRIKES
AGAIN: Dean Elgar is gone, trapped
in front by Rahat Ali for 7 as South Africa slips to 196 for five. Pakistan is
into the South African lower order or batting tail, as Robin Peterson joins AB
de Villiers. Ali has taken 2 for 52.
AB, ELGAR TRY TO
FRUSTRATE SAEED: Dean Elgar and AB
de Villiers rotate the strike against the off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, taking quick
singles to upset his rhythm. De Villiers is on 38 and Elgar on 7 as South
Africa moves to 196 for four.
AMLA PERISHES ON THE
VERGE OF TON: Hashim Amla is caught
behind when he flashes at a short delivery from Rahat Ali and is gone for 92.
He faced 128 deliveries and hit thirteen fours. He featured in a 79-run
partnership with AB de Villiers, who is undefeated on 36. It was the right
decision to go after that delivery, but his execution let him down. Standing
ovation for Amla after another wonderful innings.
AMLA SURVIVES: Pakistan appeals for a caught-behind
against Hashim Amla, on 90. The bowler is Rahat Ali. He is given not out and
Pakistan refers it to the TV-umpire, but umpire Billy Bowden’s original
decision is upheld. AB de Villiers is on
32 and South Africa is on 178 for three.
YOUNIS TEASING AMLA: Younis
Khan, who dismissed Hashim Amla earlier in the series, invites Hashim Amla to
drive him and Amla square-drives it for a single, but it was in the air for a while.
South Africa is on 184 for three after 46 overs. De Villiers is on 35, and Amla
is on 92. The partnership for the fourth wicket is 77 off 108 balls.
BEST FIELDER IN THE
WORLD: The SuperSport-commentator Mike Haysman asks viewers to tweet their
best fielder in the world today. Kieron Pollard and Faf du Plessis receive some
support.
SUBLIME AB IN HIS STRIDE:
AB de Villiers plays arguably the best shot of the day, a delicate late
square drive off Mohammad Irfan as he moves to 22. Amla is on 87 and South
Africa moves to 167 for three.
AMLA, AB IN CRUISE
CONTROL: Hashim Amla, on 89, and AB
de Villiers, on 28, are really hurting Pakistan with excellent boundaries, but
also by rotating the strike with superb wrist work as they guide South Africa
to 173 for three after 43 overs. Pakistan is looking a bit lost, and they have
turned to Younis Khan in a desperate attempt to break the partnership of 66
runs.
AMLA, AB ACCUMULATE
HALF-CENTURY STAND AT DRINKS: AB de Villiers works a delivery by the
off-spinner Saeed Ajmal with his wrists to square-leg as De Villiers and Hashim
Amla compete a half-century partnership for the fourth wicket off 70 balls.
South Africa is on 158 for three. AB is on 17 and Amla on 85. These two have
handled the threat of Ajmal very well.
IRFAN MAKES THE SPEED
GUN TALK: Mohammad Irfan produces a delivery of 146.4 kilometres per hour
that rushes Hashim Amla, but he still deals effectively with it as he pulls it
for a couple. South Africa on 134 for three. Amla on 75, and AB de Villiers on
4.
