Agencies
Pakistan’s spinners Yasir Shah and Nauman Ali struck a few hammer blows at the end of the third day, as Pakistan reclaimed control of the first Test on Thursday.
After Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen had battled extremely hard for over three hours in a partnership of 127 runs for the second wicket, the spin duo picked up three wickets in the last half an hour, to reduce to 187/4, a lead of just 29 runs. It was a stunning and possibly match defining period for the hosts. Until Van der Dussen’s dismissal South Africa had shown the kind of application and grit needed to thrive on a pitch that until the last half an hour was still reasonably good for batting.
Pakistan had taken a 158 run first innings lead in the morning. Kagiso Rabada became the eighth South African bowling to reach 200 Test wickets with the dismissal of Hasan Ali, in what was another poor session with the ball for the Proteas. Van der Dussen who spent 205 minutes at the crease, made 64, but the technique which served him well – getting his bat out in front of his pad – also led to his downfall with Yasir bowling one slightly slower that Van der Dussen pushed to Abid Ali at silly mid off.
Faf du Plessis lost another battle with Yasir – he was dropped by Babar Azam at slip off searing leg break – but a few balls later was deceived by a ‘slider’ and played back when he should have been forward and was trapped lbw for 10.
Markram fell to Nauman, again the technique that had worked well, was beaten by a fine bit of bowling from the left arm spinner, the ball bouncing slight more off a length, catching the shoulder of the right hand opener’s bat with Abid completing the catch at silly mid-off. Markram scored 74, in 224 minutes, hitting 10 fours.
Quinton de Kock on nought and Keshav Maharaj on 2, will resume for the Proteas on Friday morning.
