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28 March 2024

SA v Pakistan 2nd Test: Five-star Ajmal rocks South Africa

Published
By Staff/Reuters

Pakistan took control of the second Test against South Africa who are struggling at 139 for five at stumps on the second day at Newlands on Friday with Saeed Ajmal claiming all five.

South Africa are trailing by 199 runs after Pakistan lifted by a ninth wicket stand of 64 between Tanvir Ahmed and Ajmal made 338 in their first innings, Vernon Philander picking up five for 59.

Ajmal bowling unchanged for more than three hours either side of the tea interval returned excellent figures of 25-8-41-5 to raise Pakistan's hopes of levelling the series.

His brilliant first-innings performance was almost overshadowed by three incidents involving umpire Steve Davis.

The most heated debate occurred after Jacques Kallis was given out lbw for two off Ajmal by third umpire Billy Bowden.

Davis had lifted his finger for what seemed to be a catch off bat and pad and the unhappy Kallis decided to opt for a television review.

Hot-spot showed no edge but the replay revealed the ball would have gone on to clip the outside of leg stump and he was given out lbw.

Kallis argued that he should not be given out as the original bat-pad decision was wrong. However, after lengthy talks between Davis and Bowden, the South African had to walk back to the pavilion.

Neither team nor match referee Jeff Crowe would comment on the matter at the close of play although Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore confirmed his side had appealed for bat-pad only, casting more doubt on the validity of the dismissal.

Ajmal bowled non-stop for 25 overs from just before tea to hand the initiative to Pakistan.

DRYER WICKET

"Ajmal has been able to get purchase on the wicket which is dryer than it has been in the past," South Africa's assistant coach Russell Domingo told a news conference.

"Maybe we could have played more positively against him but the history of Newlands shows the third innings is the trickiest to bat in. If we can get to within 80 or 90 of them in this innings and put them under pressure, hopefully we can chase 250 or so."

Captain Graeme Smith was Ajmal's first victim, trapped lbw for 19 while attempting a sweep. Davis originally said it was not out but the visitors asked for a review and it showed the ball would have hit the stumps.

Azhar Ali then took an excellent one-handed catch at short leg to dismiss Alviro Petersen for 17, Ajmal finding an inside edge that deflected off the pads.

Hashim Amla (25) was then struck on the pads playing back to Ajmal. Once again Davis gave it not out but the lbw shout was overturned on review.

Faf du Plessis took more than two hours to make 28 before his long vigil was ended when he was caught at slip by Younus Khan off Ajmal.

AB de Villiers (24) and Dean Elgar (11) were the unbeaten batsmen when stumps were drawn.

"The conditions here are totally different to the first test {at the Wanderers)," said Whatmore, referring to his team's 211-run defeat.

"In that match the home side were never under any pressure. This wicket will get harder to bat on so we are happy with our position."

Earlier, Philander registered his ninth five-wicket haul in tests to bowl Pakistan out on the stroke of lunch.

Philander removed Asad Shafiq for 111 with his first ball of the day before claiming the scalps of Sarfraz Ahmed (13) and Umar Gul (0).

Tanvir Ahmed (44) and Ajmal (21 not out) put on 64 for the ninth wicket until the former fell to Robin Peterson.

Off-spinner Peterson also accounted for the final wicket of Mohammed Irfan (6). 

EVENING SESSION

AB de Villiers survives a close call for a leg before decision against Saeed Ajmal with Pakistan being unsuccessful with the referral.

South Africa are 136-5 after 57 overs in reply to Pakistan's total of 338 on the second day of the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands on Friday.

Mohammad Hafeez has been introduced into the attack for the first time as Pakistan opt for spin from both ends after the 50th over.

Mohammad Irfan who has been given a final warning for running on the pitch has been despatched to the cover boundary by AB de Villiers.

Saeed Ajmal has claimed his fifth wicket to have South Africa reeling as Faf du Plessis goes caught by Younis Khan at second slip.

Du Plessis faced 83 balls for his 28 which contained four but fails to read which way Ajmal was turning as he claims 5 for 32 after 17 overs having bowled unchanged either side of the interval since coming on in the 12th over of the innings.

AB de Villiers has pulled Mohammad Irfan to the square leg fence while Saeed Ajmal tightens the noose at the other end.

South Africa are in deep trouble with Jacques Kallis going after a controversial decision after surviving 36 minutes to score two runs having been adjudged LBW off Saeed Ajmal.

The controversy was over whether the appeal was for a bat-pad catch or LBW with even the umpires being confused.

Kallis failed to overturn the original decision following a review as Ajmal takes his fourth wicket.

Faf du Plessis brings up the 100 of the South African innings with a boundary off Umar Gul in the 39th over.

Pakistan are really tightening the screws with only a single coming off the last three overs as Jacque Kallis and Faf du Plessis dig in with South Africa in trouble.

Faf du Plessis has hit his third boundary an exquisite cover drive this time off Umar Gul as he tries to break the shackles.

Saeed Ajmal seems to be the bogey man for South Africa getting his third wicket that of Hashim Amla LBW who was originally given not out.

Amla has to go after making 25 off 60 balls with three boundaries being trapped on the back foot with Pakistan being successfull with the decision review.

Amla added 34 runs for the third wicket with Faf du Plessis but was subdued after the tea interval attempting some uncharacteristic reverse sweep shots in frustration.

For the second time in South Africa's innings the umpire's not out verdict had to be reversed.

Faf du Plessis gets his second boundary with a streaky shot to third man as South Africa make slow progress.

Faf du Plessis has hit the first boundary after the tea interval punching Tanvir Ahmed past mid on.

Pakistan are attacking with Saeed Ajmal and Tanvir Ahmed after the tea interval as they attempt to take a stranglehold over South Africa.

Saeed Ajmal grabbed two wickets in quick succession to peg back the hosts who bowled out Pakistan for 338 on the stroke of lunch.

Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 17 having hit three boundaries, two of them off Ajmal, having faced 39 balls while Faf du Plessis is with him.

Graeme Smith (19) was the first to go adjudged leg before after a decision referral while Alviro Petersen fell to a brilliant catch by Azhar Ali at forward short leg.

Ajmal has figures of two for 20 from his seven overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Azhar Ali takes a brilliant catch at forward short leg as Saeed Ajmal strikes again to dismiss Alviro Petersen for 17 off 54 balls after batting for 87 minutes hitting two boundaries.

South Africa are 61-2 after 22 overs in reply to Pakistan's total of 338 in the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands on Friday.

Saeed Ajmal strikes in his second over dismissing Graeme Smith adjudged leg before with Pakistan being successful after a decision review.

Smith made 19 off 38 balls battling for 72 minutes and hitting two boundaries.

Pakistan introduce spin for the first time as Saeed Ajmal replaces Irfan in the 12th over of the South African innings.

Graeme Smith has swung Umar Gul to mid on for his second boundary as South Africa make a cautious start against Pakistan's new ball attack.

Test debutant Mohammad Irfan is introduced into the attack in the eighth over with South Africa 20 without loss.

Irfan has bowled the fastest ball of the match times at 144 kmph.

Graeme Smith gets his first boundary in the seventh over when he pulls Umar Gul to square leg.

Alviro Petersen hits the first boundary of the South African innings in the fourth over when he slams Tanvir Ahmed past backward point.

Graeme Smith is dropped at second slip by Younis Khan off Umar Gul in the third over of the innings.

South Africa began their reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 388 with Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen playing down the opening overs from Umar Gul and Tanvir Ahmed.

MORNING SESSION

Robin Petersen gets his first wicket that of Tanvir Ahmed who fails to clear Vernon Philander at mid off after making 44 off 59 balls with four boundaries.

Pakistan are 334-9 after 116 overs continuing from their overnight total of 253-5 having been put into bat by South Africa in the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands.

Tanvir's ninth wicket partnership with Ajmal was worth 64 off 110 balls.

Tanvir Ahmed cracks Steyn to the third man boundary despite the valiant effort of Robin Petersen to catch it and follows up with a single to bring up the 50 partnership in 71 balls for the ninth wicket with Ajmal.

Saeed Ajmal has whipped Steyn to the midwicket fence for his third boundary.

The bad news for South Africa is that Morne Morkel before delivering the ball with a suspected muscle twinge as drinks are taken with Pakistan 299-8.

Dale Steyn returns to the attack as South Africa bid to wrap up the Pakistan being frustrated by the ninth wicket pair of Tanvir Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal.

The Pakistan tail is wagging with gay abandon as Saeed Ajmal and Tanvir Ahmed crack consecutive boundaries off Philander and Morkel.

Tanvir Ahmed top edges a bouncer from Morkel as the Pakistan tail wags.

Tanvir Ahmed hits a lovely straight drive off Morne Morkel who also concedes a streaky boundary off Saeed Ajmal in his first over of the day.

Vernon Philander claims his fifth wicket trapping Umar Gul leg before for a duck with Pakistan being unsuccessful with the decision review.

Philander who beat the bat on several occasions on the first day has figures of 4 for 51 after his double strike on the morning of the second day.

Sarfraz Ahmed gets the second boundary of the day a streaky one to fine leg off an inside edge off Philander but is gone two balls later to a brilliant one-handed catch by Alviro Peterson diving at third slip.

Ahmed hit two boundaries in his 13 off 17 balls.

Vernon Philander strikes with his first delivery in the second over of the day as Asad Shafiq edges to Graeme Smith at first slip without adding to his overnight score of 111.

Sarfraz Ahmed hits the first boundary of the day off Steyn driving to long on.

Dale Steyn opens the attack for South Africa on day two of the second Test against Pakistan who resume on 253 for five at Newlands on Friday.