Proteas in control despite tampering drama

News

Cricket365
October 25, 2013

Pakistan still trailed South Africa by 286 runs at stumps on day three of the second Test in Dubai, sitting on 132 for four after losing early wickets and again needing to be rescued by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

The Proteas were all out for 517 before lunch, losing their final six wickets for 45 runs thanks to Saeed Ajmal's onslaught. They then reduced the hosts to 70 for four at one stage, before Misbah's 42 not out, and five penalty runs, saved a collapse.

The day will be remember for those extra runs, after the Proteas were punished for ball tampering in the 31st over of the Pakistan knock. Faf du Plessis was caught on camera rubbing the ball on the zip of his trouser pocket, and the umpires promptly changed the ball.

While the visitors wait to see what further sanctions will be handed down by the match referee, they would still have been pleased with the day's action despite the morning collapse, having started the day on 460 for four.

Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, overnight centurions, each only added seven runs to their overnight scores. De Villiers departed for 164 to Mohammad Irfan, while Smith advanced to 234 before falling to Ajmal.

The rest of the wickets tumbled quickly during the extended session, with Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir all victims of Ajmal's spin. Du Plessis was the unbeaten man, on 17 off 64 balls.

There were only two overs of further action before lunch, as Pakistan's chase began in dire fashion. Dale Steyn removed Shan Masood for a duck in the first over, and Philander then bagged Khurram Manzoor, also for none, the next over.

So after coming out in the afternoon on two for two, Pakistan moved on to 48 before losing their third wicket. Azhar Ali fell to JP Duminy's first delivery of the innings, having made 19 in partnership with Younis Khan.

The veteran batsman went on to make 36 before playing a daft shot against Imran Tahir, swinging across the line and seeing the ball deflect off his pads and onto his stumps. This left Misbah and Asad Shafiq to see out the day, putting on 62 runs together.