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Lunch South Africa 68 for 2 (Amla 7*, Kallis 15*) v Pakistan
File photo: As expected, Vernon Philander returned for South Africa © AFP
It took until the second hour of the morning, but Pakistan made useful inroads into South Africa's top order by removing both openers before lunch on the opening day. Graeme Smith, who was the focus of most of the build-up, and Alviro Petersen had battled hard against the new ball before both fell to edges behind the wicket as South Africa reached 68 for 2.
Junaid Khan, the left-armer, was the pick of the Pakistan attack and after an hour-and-a-half, he provided the breakthrough in his second spell. Bowling from around the wicket he found Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Umar Gul had Smith caught behind when South Africa's captain also aimed to the on side.
There had been plenty to distract Smith in the build-up to this match, as he became the first man to lead in 100 Tests, but he seemingly managed to put birthdays and landmarks to one side. Although he was not always secure outside off stump he looked steeled for a typically tone-setting innings and he was angry with himself at the mode of dismissal.
On a surface where the cracks were expected to play a part later in the match, both captains were keen to bat first and it was Smith who gained that choice, but he knew conditions would offer the bowlers some assistance. Even in the era of increased scoring rates there are times to 'give' a period to the bowlers and the opening six overs brought just six runs as Smith and Petersen left as much as they could.
Both openers were struck on the pads, beaten by some late movement particularly by Junaid, but were also alert to quick singles on the off side. The pressure was relieved a little by Rahat Ali's first spell in Test cricket. Despite being a late addition to the squad, and only arriving in South Africa on Monday, Ali was preferred to Mohammad Irfan. His four overs cost 21, although one of the boundaries he conceded was because of a misfield at mid-off, before the second spells of Junaid and Gul brought rewards.
After the quick loss of the openers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis kept Pakistan at bay until the lunch interval. Saeed Ajmal made a brief appearance before the break and, although conditions favoured the quicks, he will likely be needed for a lengthy spell to allow the fast bowlers to rotate.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Faf fu Plessis, 7 Dean Elgar, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel
Pakistan 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Rahat Ali
File photo: As expected, Vernon Philander returned for South Africa © AFP
It took until the second hour of the morning, but Pakistan made useful inroads into South Africa's top order by removing both openers before lunch on the opening day. Graeme Smith, who was the focus of most of the build-up, and Alviro Petersen had battled hard against the new ball before both fell to edges behind the wicket as South Africa reached 68 for 2.
Junaid Khan, the left-armer, was the pick of the Pakistan attack and after an hour-and-a-half, he provided the breakthrough in his second spell. Bowling from around the wicket he found Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Umar Gul had Smith caught behind when South Africa's captain also aimed to the on side.
There had been plenty to distract Smith in the build-up to this match, as he became the first man to lead in 100 Tests, but he seemingly managed to put birthdays and landmarks to one side. Although he was not always secure outside off stump he looked steeled for a typically tone-setting innings and he was angry with himself at the mode of dismissal.
On a surface where the cracks were expected to play a part later in the match, both captains were keen to bat first and it was Smith who gained that choice, but he knew conditions would offer the bowlers some assistance. Even in the era of increased scoring rates there are times to 'give' a period to the bowlers and the opening six overs brought just six runs as Smith and Petersen left as much as they could.
Both openers were struck on the pads, beaten by some late movement particularly by Junaid, but were also alert to quick singles on the off side. The pressure was relieved a little by Rahat Ali's first spell in Test cricket. Despite being a late addition to the squad, and only arriving in South Africa on Monday, Ali was preferred to Mohammad Irfan. His four overs cost 21, although one of the boundaries he conceded was because of a misfield at mid-off, before the second spells of Junaid and Gul brought rewards.
After the quick loss of the openers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis kept Pakistan at bay until the lunch interval. Saeed Ajmal made a brief appearance before the break and, although conditions favoured the quicks, he will likely be needed for a lengthy spell to allow the fast bowlers to rotate.
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Faf fu Plessis, 7 Dean Elgar, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel
Pakistan 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Rahat Ali