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Pakistan held the upper hand despite a solid unbeaten century from Hashim Amla (118 ) restricting South Africa to at close on the opening day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Amla dropped anchor after Pakistan’s pace duo of Irfan and Junaid extracted early movement in the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium pitch to have South Africa tottering at 43-3 after electing to bat first.
The 30-year-old right hander has stroked 13 fours and faced 250 balls so far during his more than six-hour long vigil as he marched imperiously to notch his 20th Test century.
He stood like a rock in the middle and was associated in two partnerships with AB de Villiers and Duminy who stroked a fluent 57 which contained six boundaries and a six.
After the bizarre dismissal of AB de Villiers (19) following a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket with Amla, Duminy added 75 runs for the fifth wicket before becoming one of three victims of debutant left arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.
Pakistan wrested back in the initiative in the final session as South Africa lost four wickets for just 22 runs to collapse from 199-4 to 222-8 before Steyn and Amla survived the eight overs before the close.
Babar had the best return of three for 89.
Earlier, gangly paceman Irfan rocked South Africa by taking two early wickets in his opening spell while Junaid sent back Kallis as they took lunch at 66-3.
Smith playing his first international match since an ankle injury earlier this year, hit Irfan for two exquisite boundaries but the lanky paceman had the last laugh, dismissing the South African skipper caught behind.
Pakistan successfully took a review after Australian umpire Rod Tucker initially turned down a confident appeal.
Kallis also playing his first Test since February this year, looked rusty before edging a sharp incoming delivery from Khan for wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal to take a smart low catch.
De Villiers helped Amla take South Africa past 100-mark before he fell in a bizare manner, run out for 19.
De Villiers defended a slower one from spinner Zulfiqar Babar and as the ball rolled to first slip, Younis Khan threw the ball to Akmal who saw the batsman out of his crease dislodged the stumps.
He and Amla added 61 for the fourth wicket. Babar and opener Shan Masood made Test debuts for Pakistan.
Pakistan entered the Test with two pacemen and two spinners, handing a debut to left-armer Zulfiqar Babar at 34. Opener Shan Masood celebrated his 24th birthday with a Test cap.
South Africa employed three pacemen and Robin Peterson as their lone spinner.
FINAL SESSION
Tailender Dale Steyn survived four over with the second new ball as South Africa ended day one on 245-8 on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Steyn shows off his batting skills with a superb straight drive off Junaid. SA 245-8 in 88 overs.
Amla square cuts Irfan for a boundary. SA 241-8 in 87 overs.
Pakistan take the second new ball with South Africa 237-8 in 86.3 overs and Irfan bowling to Amla.
Steyn whacks Babar for a six and gets a life attempting to clear the boundary again as the South African tail decide to wag. SA 237-8 in 86 overs.
Ajmal gets his first wicket as Philander is adjudged leg before with South Africa being unsuccessful with the decision review. SA 222-8 in 82.1 overs.
Vernon Philander lbw b Saeed Ajmal 3 (12b 0x4 0x6)
Pakistan have deferred taking the new ball which is due with South Africa 217-7 in 80 overs.
Debutant Babar claims his third wicket bowling Peterson as Pakistan peg back South Africa. SA 217-7 in 79.2 overs.
Robin Peterson b Zulfiqar Babar 5 (15b 1x4 0x6)
Peterson hits a boundary off Ajmal cutting him to past point. SA 210-6 in 75 overs.
Pakistan are unsuccessful with a decision review after Peterson was given not out for leg before appeal off Ajmal.
Babar claims his second wicket as Faf du Plessis edges to Shafiq at slip. SA 205-6 in 73.3 overs.
Faf du Plessis c Asad Shafiq b Zulfiqar Babar 1 (12b 0x4 0x6)
Amla completes his 20th Test century and second against Pakistan with a single off Babar.
Amla has consumed 201 balls and hit 11 fours so far during his flawless century.
Babar gets his first Test wicket as Duminy fails to profit from the life he got at 56 sweeping to Shafiq at square leg. SA 199-5 in 70 overs.
Jean-Paul Duminy c Asad Shafiq b Zulfiqar Babar 57 (94b 6x4 1x6)
Duminy was the major contributor during a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket with Amla.
Pakistan are also unsuccessful with a decision review for a leg before appeal off Ajmal. SA 196-4 in 69 overs.
Duminy gets a life on 56 with Adnan Akmal failing to latch on to a thin edge off Ajmal who was cut for a boundary the previous ball.
Duminy completes his fifth Test half century off 85 balls with a single. SA 188-4 in 66 overs.
Amla hooks a short pitched delivery from Junaid to the square leg fence. SA 181-4 in 63 overs.
Amla is in complete control punching Junaid through the covers for his 10th boundary. SA 173-4 in 59 overs.
Duminy sweeps Babar to backward square leg for a boundary to move into the 40s. SA 167-4 in 58 overs.
Amla continues to dominate the bowling lofting Babar over cover for a boundary in the first over after the tea interval. SA 156-4 in 56 overs.
TEA
South Africa reached 152 for four in 55 overs at tea on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Amla is unbeaten on 71 having stroked eight boundaries while Duminy was with him on 36 hitting a six and four boundaries.
South Africa made steady progress during the afternoon session adding 86 for the loss of AB de Villiers who was run out.
Duminy is on song steering the returning Junaid to the point boundary. SA 144-4 in 51 overs.
Duminy is growing in confidence and asserting his dominance over Ajmal by hoisting the spinner for a straight six. SA 137-4 in 50 overs.
Duminy hits a lovely on drive straight back past Ajmal for a boundary. SA 129-4 in 48 overs.
Duminy gets cracking slamming a couple of boundaries off Babar. SA 116-4 in 43 overs.
Just when South Africa appeared to have recovered from the early setbacks, AB de Villiers departs after a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket with Amla as Pakistan regain control in the hour after lunch. SA 106-4 in 42 overs at the drinks interval.
Pakistan are successful with another decision review with AB de Villiers being adjudged run out with wicket keeper Adnan Akmal whipping off the bails while the batsman was mulling a single. SA 104-4 in 40.3 overs.
AB de Villiers run out 19 (76b 2x4 0x6)
Amla lofts Babar inside out over extra cover for a boundary to bring up the 100 of the innings in the 39th over.
Pakistan have employed an all-spin attack with Ajmal and Babar operating from both ends. SA 96-3 in 38 overs.
The 50-partnership between Amla and AB de Villiers for the fourth wicket comes up in 121 balls as South Africa seek to consolidate. SA 94-3 in 37 overs.
Amla completes his 28th Test half century pulling Junaid to the square leg fence. SA 89-3 in 35 overs.
Amla punches Ajmal this time through the offside for another boundary to move to 43. SA 83-3 in 34 overs.
Amla steers Junaid through the covers for another boundary. SA 78-3 in 33 overs.
Ajmal sends down a maiden to AB de Villiers in his first over after lunch.
Amla hits the first boundary after lunch driving Irfan through the covers. SA 70-3 in 27 overs.
Pakistan took the honours in the first session of play of the first Test to have struggling at 66 for three at lunch at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
LUNCH
Gangly left-arm pacer Irfan caused the initial damage claiming Petersen and Smith in his opening spell while Junaid removed Kallis.
Amla was unbeaten on 30 having hit three boundaries facing 62 balls.
AB de Villiers was with him on 11 which contained two hits to the fence.
Irfan has figures of two for 27 so far while Junaid has claimed one for 17.
Pakistan's 34 year-old debutant spinner Babar was introduced into the attack early while South Africa survived three testing overs from Ajmal before lunch.
Ajmal sends down a maiden to AB de Villiers as lunch is taken with South Africa 66-3 in 26 overs.
Amla drives Irfan through the covers for another delightful boundary. SA 66-3 in 25 overs.
AB de Villiers survives a confident leg before appeal off Ajmal. SA 62-3 in 24 overs.
AB de Villiers punches Irfan through the covers for his second boundary. SA 61-3 in 23 overs.
Irfan is back into the attack replacing Junaid who has figures of 9-2-17-1 after two spells.
Ajmal has been introduced into the attack 20 minutes before lunch with South Africa 56-3 in 21 overs.
He replaces Babar who returned figures of 6-0-18-0 in his opening spell in Test cricket.
AB de Villiers drives Junaid beautifully through the covers for his first boundary and bring up the 50 of the innings in the 19th over.
South Africa are in a spot of bother now as Junaid takes the big wicket of Kallis who is caught behind off an inside edge. SA 43-3 in 16.4 overs.
Jacques Kallis c Adnan Akmal b Junaid Khan 5 (28b 0x4 0x6)
Amla drives Junaid past extra cover for his second boundary. SA 40-2 in 13 overs as the first drinks interval is taken.
Junaid has switched ends replacing Irfan who has figures of 6-1-19-2 after his opening spell.
Amla hits the first really aggressive shot of the morning punching Babar through the covers for a boundary. SA 35-2 in 12 overs.
Left-arm spinner Babar is the 215th player to represent Pakistan in Tests. SA 28-2 in 10 overs.
Spin has been introduced as early as in the 10th over of the match with debutant Babar coming into the attack replacing Junaid.
Another close call for Amla who is sent back by the non-striker with the return being wide as he dived to make his ground. SA 24-2 in 9 overs.
Junaid beats the bat of Amla who opens his account after 11 deliveries with a straight drive to mid off for three runs. SA 22-2 in 8 overs.
Double success for Irfan as Smith is adjudged caught behind following a decision review by the third umpire. SA 19-2 in 6.2 overs.
Graeme Smith c Adnan Akmal b Mohammad Irfan 15 (16b 2x4 0x6)
Smith hits the first boundary of the match edging Irfan through slips. SA 14-1 in 5 overs.
Graeme Smith survives a confident leg before appeal off Junaid before scrambling for a single next ball. SA 7-1 in 4 overs.
Irfan strikes in the third over of the match as Petersen is caught at forward short leg by debutant Masood. SA 6-1 in 2.5 overs.
Alviro Petersen c Shan Masood b Mohammad Irfan 3 (15b 0x4 0x6)
Junaid Khan has been handed the new ball from the Pavilion end. SA 6-0 in 2 overs.
Petersen opens the account for South Africa with a single off Irfan. SA 3 for no loss in 1 over.
South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Test against Pakistan at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Shan Masood and Zulfiqar Babar make their debut for Pakistan while Abdur Rehman misses out with a sore back.
Mohammad Irfan returns the side as does JP Duminy for South Africa.
Teams:
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah ul Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alivero Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Dean Elgar, Rory Kleinveldt, Imran Tahir, Thami Tsolekille.
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