Hafeez helps Pakistan bowl SA out for 253

Pakistan bagged the honours on the first day of the first Test against South Africa after their bowlers bundled out the hosts for 253.

Right-arm offbreak bowler Mohammad Hafeez was surprisingly the star performer for the visitors with four wickets. He was well supported by Umar Gul and Junaid Khan as Pakistan bagged six wickets in the last session to leave the hosts in a spot of bother.

If the bowlers excelled then their fielding too deserved praise with two outstanding catches. 

In reply, Pakistan after facing two overs, were six for no loss with Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed unbeaten on 0 and 6 respectively.

However, all is not over yet for the hosts as they boast of the world's best pace attack in Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.

It will be interesting to see how the Pakistan batsmen handle them tomorrow since none of the SA batsmen could go on to get a big score.

After birthday boy Smith won the toss and opted to bat in his 100th Test as captain the hosts went along nicely. Smith and Petersen put on 46 runs for the first wicket.

Thereafter Kallis, Amla, De Villiers and Du Plessis too made valuable contributions but none went on to score that big hundred which could have tilted the balance in their favour.

Pakistan's bowlers kept pegging at the hosts time and again. Only for a brief period after lunch did they look a bit sluggish but they came back in a big way in the last session.

Will their batsmen be able to capitalise on the good work done by the bowlers now only time will tell.

Dale Steyn brings up the 250 for South Africa with a four and a six off Umar Gul.

South Africa in all sorts of trouble as Vernon Philander is run out. Pakistan going great guns here as the fielding too has picked up.

Hafeez, the man with the golden arm, is at it again. He gets Dean Elgar to nick one down the leg side to wicketkeeper Sarfraz for his third wicket.

Misbah seems to be making the right decisions. This time he opts for the second new ball midway through Hafeez's over and guess what the bowler delivers hitting the timber to send Peterson back to the pavilion without scoring. Peterson completely misread this one, thinking it would spin he tried leaving it and the ball clipped the bails of the off stump.

Pakistan once again benefit from a bowling change. Junaid, replacing Hafeez, got Plessis to play on. The South African batsman had no clue where the ball was after he played a defensive shot only for the ball to roll on to the stumps and knock the bails off. Strange way of getting out especially after he had worked hard for his 41.

Dean Elgar hits the first six of the day when he goes down on one knee to loft Ajmal over midwicket. He then cover-drives the same bowler for four to take South Africa's score to 232 for 5.

It was a fitting reply from Elgar after he was left clueless by Ajmal with one getting past him in a jiffy into the keeper gloves. 

Skipper Misbah's bowling change seems to be working wonders for Pakistan as Mohammed Hafeez is handed the ball and he strikes getting the wicket of De Villiers who edges to wicketkeeper Sarfraz.

De Villiers and Plessis put on 64 runs for the fifth wicket to pull the hosts slightly back into the game but the Pakistan bowlers continue to impress.

De Villiers and Plessis (above) continue the good work as they bring up their 50-run partnership.

De Villiers and du Plessis encounter some anxious moments to keep the scoreboard ticking. Plessis survived a close call when it was referred to the third umpire after he edged Rahat to the keeper but it was inconclusive and he survived.

It has been even Stevens in the second session but Pakistan will be happy to see the back of South Africa's two most experienced batsmen Kallis and Amla. Both got out just when they looked set for big scores.

AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis have managed to dig deep and put on 24 runs so far but there is a lot of work to do for the hosts. Another couple of wickets and Pakistan will be on top. 

After a sedate start runs begin to flow from the bats of du Plessis and de Villiers as tea is taken with the hosts on 159 for 4 after 55 overs.  

Pakistan bowlers Junaid and Ajmal maintain a tight leash on the South African batsmen AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis giving nothing much away as the hosts struggle for runs scoring at 2.80 per over. 

Misbah-ul-Haq's gamble of giving Younis Khan an over has paid rich dividends as the part-time medium pacer gets Amla to nick one to Azhar Ali.

Umar Gul gets rid of dangerman Kallis as he tries to pull the Pakistan bowler only to loft a catch at mid-wicket to Shafiq who had to dive full length to hold of it.

Kallis gets to his 58th half century in his 160th Test match with a single off the bowling of Ajmal.

Umar Gul replaces Rahat Ali, probes Kallis with balls down the off side but the veteran stays put. SA reach 117 for 2 after 36 overs.

Landmark for Kallis as he reaches 13,000 Test runs with two successive fours off Rahat Ali as South Africa cruise to 103 for 2 after 34 overs.

Kallis and Amla bring up their 50-run partnership off 70 balls after Amla found the gap between covers to hit Ajmal for a four.

South Africa's run-rate over three now.

Kallis takes a cue from Amla and spanks Rahat Ali for two fours down the point area. South Africa enter the nineties.

Amla hits Junaid for two consecutive fours down the leg side. The hosts reach 84 for 2 after 29 overs.

Kallis hits the first boundary after lunch when he picks the gap between mid-off and extra cover to take South Africa to 73 for 2.

Play resumes after lunch. South Africa 69 for 2 after 26 overs.

It was an interesting first session at the Wanderers with the Pakistan bowlers gaining a slight upper hand over the South African batsmen. Skipper Smith and Petersen looked tentative but once they departed Kallis and Amla batted confidently to ensure there was no further damage at lunch. The hosts scoring at 2.72 runs per over. 

Kallis in full control as he drives Junaid down the ground for four. South Africa 61 for 2.

Hashim Amla gets into the groove, thumping Junaid through covers for four. 

Jacques Kallis brings up SA's 50 with the flick down leg side off Gul.

South Africa rocked as Umar Gul gets the edge of Smith 's bat for wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed to take an easy catch.

Junaid strikes after Petersen plays a tentative shot and edges to Hafeez at third slip. SA 46 for 1.

South Africa 46 for no loss after 18 overs.

Junaid continues to torment the SA openers but is unlucky to get a wicket as the hosts prod along to 42 for no loss after 17 overs.

Petersen comes down hard again on Rahat this time driving him through covers for his second successive four as SA reach 38 without loss.

Petersen hits his first boundary pulling Rahat Ali through mid-wicket. 

Smith and Petersen bide their time as SA reach 27 for no loss at drinks after the captain and birthday boy who is leading his side for the 100th Test opted to bat on winning the toss.

South Africa are 25 for no loss after 11 overs.

Smith hits Junaid down the ground for a four.

Rahat struggles with his line and length, concedes three runs in his first over as SA are 16 for no loss.

Debutant Rahat Ali comes in for Umar Gul.

South Africa 13 for no loss after eight overs.

Smith flicks Gul down the leg side for the first boundary of the innings. SA 12 for no loss.

Junaid has Petersen in all sorts of trouble as the South African opener plays and misses. It's a maiden over from the left hander as the Proteas are six for no loss after six overs.

Petersen gets off the mark after facing 12 balls as South Africa are 6 for no loss after 5 overs.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first in the 1st Test against Pakistan at Johannesburg on Friday.

Smith survives a close call after being rapped on the pad by Junaid but Pakistan don't take the referral.

South Africa 3 for no loss after three overs.

Junaid also keeps it tight for Pakistan conceding just one run as South Africa are two for no loss after two overs.

Umar Gul bowls a tidy first over conceding just 1 run.

South Africa 1 for no loss after opting to bat first in the 1st Test against Pakistan at Johannesburg on Friday.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat in the 1st Test against Pakistan at Johannesburg on Friday.

Birthday boy Smith leads his side in his 100th Test as SA fresh from their thrashing of New Zealand.

Pakistan's Rahat Ali and Nasir Jamshed make their debut.

Smith said: "It might be a bit tough in the morning, but thinks the cracks in the pitch will start playing a big role as the match progresses."

Misbah said he was really looking forward to seeing Junaid Khan in these conditions.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali.

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