Print

Mail

wiki links

Wickets galore tumble as Pakistan assume control

Pakistani batsman Younis Khan, right, plays a shot on Friday, watched by South African wicketkeeper Marc Boucher during the first day of their Test at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. PHOTO: AFP

Makhaya Ntini took four wickets on Friday for Pakistan to reach 135 for six in reply to South Africa's 124 at stumps on day one of the second of three Tests.

Ntini took two wickets before tea and then dismissed Yasir Hameed to leave Pakistan on 19-3.

Earlier, Shoaib Akhtar took four for 36 and Danish Kaneria three for 36. Mark Boucher top-scored with 35, while Graeme Smith made 28 and Jacques Kallis 24.

A.B de Villiers attempted to pull a short-pitched delivery from Shoaib and edged to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for two.

Hashim Amla also played a bad shot, attempting to glance a short-pitched delivery down the leg side when on five. He succeeded only in getting a glove to it for Akmal to take another catch.

Smith started to attack Kaneria when he was brought on to bowl, but, after hitting him down the ground for four, he misread a googly and edged the ball. Akmal palmed it up and Younis Khan took an easy catch to dismiss Smith for 28.

Ashwell Prince got a second chance when Akmal missed a simple chance from an edge off the bowling of Sami, but two balls later edged again, this time straight to Mohammad Hafeez at first slip to depart for two.

Gibbs then missed a sweep against Kaneria's spin to be out leg-before-wicket for two.

After lunch, Kallis edged a ball from Akhtar to Akmal.

Boucher fell edging Kaneria to Younis at slip, while Pollock on four chipped a catch to Mohammad Sami at square leg off Shoaib.

Imran Farhat prodded at Ntini's second delivery and edged him to De Villiers at slip to be dismissed for a duck. Hafeez was then out on 13.

Hameed was out for two and then Younis and Mohammad Yousuf put on a 60-run stand before Yousuf fell lbw to Shaun Pollock for 32.

Akmal came in ahead of Inzamam ul-Haq because the Pakistan captain had spent too long off the field. Younis (45) was caught in the gully by Herschelle Gibbs for 45 off Ntini to end a stand of 56.

Akmal played a rash hook shot at a bouncer by Andre Nel in the last over of the day and was caught by Ashwell Prince on 33.

Mohammad Sami was not out without scoring when play ended.
This story has been viewed 1369 times.