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Tea South Africa 159 for 4 (de Villiers 10*, du Plessis 14*) v Pakistan
Umar Gul had Graeme Smith, in his 100th Test as captain, caught behind © Getty Images
Two superb catches to remove Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, the two pillars of South Africa's middle order, ensured the opening day of the series remained tightly contested at the Wanderers. Umar Gul and Junaid Khan led Pakistan's bowling effort, but it was the unexpected role of Younis Khan that really buoyed them as South Africa reached tea on 159 for 4.
Introduced after half the days' overs had been bowled, Younis, who before today had seven Test wickets with a combination of legspin and shuffling medium pace, dropped a ball short outside off which Amla went to cut but did not keep the shot down and Azhar Ali, at gully, clung onto a flying chance above his head. Azhar's catch followed the lead set by Asad Shafiq a few moments earlier.
Amla and Kallis had added 79 for the third wicket with increasing fluency after lunch - at one stage there were four consecutive boundaries between them - with Kallis reaching fifty off 74 balls. Gul then dropped in a short ball which Kallis pulled firmly in front of square, but not to ground, and Shafiq ran from deep square-leg and grasped the chance low to the ground.
Kallis' innings had shown the side of his game that has evolved in the latter part of his career; a counter-attacking ability to seize the initiative. Both he and Amla played Saeed Ajmal confidently, milking him for four-an-over in his first spell, to threaten a breakaway by South Africa. Ironically, though, it could well have been the fact that Ajmal did not pose a huge threat that encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to give Younis his profitable trundle.
Junaid, 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 to disrupt South Africa's early hard work. Bowling from around the wicket he found Alviro Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Gul had Graeme 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 and on his birthday, 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 first four overs cost 21 and he was also expensive during the afternoon, but rewards came from elsewhere for Pakistan.
Umar Gul had Graeme Smith, in his 100th Test as captain, caught behind © Getty Images
Two superb catches to remove Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, the two pillars of South Africa's middle order, ensured the opening day of the series remained tightly contested at the Wanderers. Umar Gul and Junaid Khan led Pakistan's bowling effort, but it was the unexpected role of Younis Khan that really buoyed them as South Africa reached tea on 159 for 4.
Introduced after half the days' overs had been bowled, Younis, who before today had seven Test wickets with a combination of legspin and shuffling medium pace, dropped a ball short outside off which Amla went to cut but did not keep the shot down and Azhar Ali, at gully, clung onto a flying chance above his head. Azhar's catch followed the lead set by Asad Shafiq a few moments earlier.
Amla and Kallis had added 79 for the third wicket with increasing fluency after lunch - at one stage there were four consecutive boundaries between them - with Kallis reaching fifty off 74 balls. Gul then dropped in a short ball which Kallis pulled firmly in front of square, but not to ground, and Shafiq ran from deep square-leg and grasped the chance low to the ground.
Kallis' innings had shown the side of his game that has evolved in the latter part of his career; a counter-attacking ability to seize the initiative. Both he and Amla played Saeed Ajmal confidently, milking him for four-an-over in his first spell, to threaten a breakaway by South Africa. Ironically, though, it could well have been the fact that Ajmal did not pose a huge threat that encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to give Younis his profitable trundle.
Junaid, 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 to disrupt South Africa's early hard work. Bowling from around the wicket he found Alviro Petersen's outside edge as he was cramped by the angle coming into him while shaping to play to leg. In the next over, Gul had Graeme 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 and on his birthday, 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 first four overs cost 21 and he was also expensive during the afternoon, but rewards came from elsewhere for Pakistan.