Pakistan lose late wickets after South Africa collapse in 3rd Test
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Vernon Philander took two wickets in as many balls to leave Pakistan on 17 for two wickets at the end of the first day of the third Test after they had rallied earlier on Friday and bowled hosts South Africa out for 262.
Philander removed Shan Masood for two runs and then had Azhar Ali out first ball to bring to nine the number of wickets in a dramatic final session on what was supposed to be a docile wicket at the Wanderers.
South Africa, with a foundation of 90 runs from Aiden Markram and handy contributions from Hashim Amla, Theunis de Bruyn and debutant Zubayr Hamza, were 226-3 at tea but collapsed after and lost seven wickets for a paltry 33 runs as Pakistan’s bowlers found reverse swing to seize the initiative.
But hopes of then capping a fine comeback with a solid start to their innings was spoilt by Philander.
Faheem Ashraf, one of three changes to the Pakistan side after losing the first two Tests, took 3-57 as South Africa crumbled after tea.
The hosts were 132-1 as Markram and Amla put together a 126-run partnership in an attacking start after stand-in skipper Dean Elgar had won the toss and elected to bat.
Markram’s availability was only confirmed after a late fitness Test but he showed no signs of discomfort from a thigh injury as he rushed to 78 not out at lunch. He looked set for a fifth Test century before getting a slight touch to Faheem Ashraf’s wayward leg-side delivery and being snagged behind.
Amla provided solid back-up and looked to be set for a big score himself before he was out for 41.
De Bruyn, needing a good innings to keep his place in the team, was on 48 at tea but added just one run before his departure set off the avalanche of wickets with Hamza, after looking confident on debut, getting a small nick behind for 41.
Then followed a steady processions of wickets before Pakistan came out to bat with 30 minutes left in the day.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq (10) and nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas, who survived 13 balls without scoring, will resume on Saturday.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa 1st innings Aiden Markram c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Faheem Ashraf 90 Dean Elgar c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Mohammad Abbas 5 Hashim Amla c Asad Shafiq b Shadab Khan 41 Theunis de Bruyn lbw Mohammad Abbas 49 Zubayr Hamza c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 41 Temba Bavuma c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 8 Quinton de Kock c Mohammad Abbas b Faheem Ashraf 18 Vernon Philander lbw Hasan Ali 1 Kagiso Rabada c Sarfaraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali 0 Dale Steyn Not Out 2 Duanne Olivier c Mohammad Abbas b Faheem Ashraf 0 Extras 0b 2lb 4nb 0pen 1w 7 Total (77.4 overs) 262 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Elgar, 2-132 Markram, 3-154 Amla, 4-229 de Bruyn, 5-238 Bavuma, 6-244 Hamza, 7-249 Philander, 8-257 Rabada, 9-262 de Kock, 10-262 Olivier Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Mohammad Amir 15.4 2 36 2 2.30 1nb Mohammad Abbas 18 6 44 2 2.44 Hasan Ali 17 3 75 2 4.41 1w Faheem Ashraf 15 2 57 3 3.80 3nb Shadab Khan 10 2 39 1 3.90 Asad Shafiq 2 0 9 0 4.50 .......................................................... Pakistan 1st innings Imam ul-Haq Not Out 10 Shan Masood c Quinton de Kock b Vernon Philander 2 Azhar Ali c Quinton de Kock b Vernon Philander 0 Mohammad Abbas Not Out 0 Extras 0b 5lb 0nb 0pen 0w 5 Total (9.0 overs) 17-2 Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Khan, 2-6 Ali To Bat : Shafiq, Azam, Ahmed, Khan, Ashraf, Amir, Ali Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Dale Steyn 5 1 11 0 2.20 Vernon Philander 4 3 1 2 0.25 ............................. Umpire Sundaram Ravi Umpire Joel Wilson Video Bruce Oxenford Match Referee David Boon
