Smith lays foundation with solid century in Dubai Test

Smith made exactly 100 after electing to bat first as South Africa rattled up 325 for the loss of three wickets helped by half centuries by Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla (80) and Jacques Kallis who was unbeaten on 53.

Lights were switched on due to murky condition as clouds played hide and seek throughout the day with the Dubai cricket stadium being christened as the 102^nd Test venue.

Smith notched his 22^nd Test century in 87 matches to become the highest scorer of runs and centuries as captain. It was studded with seven hits to the ropes.

Amla fell shortly before the close caught behind by debutant keeper Adnan Akmal off Wahab Riaz. He cracked seven boundaries in his knock, sharing a 117-run partnership for the third wicket with Kallis.

Smith surpassed Australian Ricky Ponting’s record of 19 centuries as captain and also broke another Australian Allan Border’s aggregate tally. Smith has scored 6,664 runs in 79 Test matches as captain while Border made 6,623 runs in 93 Tests.

“It wasn’t something that I really thought about before the game, but obviously the guys have been telling me about it through the innings,” he told reporters in a post-match press conference.

“Obviously, I am extremely proud. If I think back to the beginning part of my career and when I took over the captaincy, it was at a young age,” he said.

“It’s kind of difficult to think you are going to be in the bracket with the Pontings, the Borders, the Waughs and so on,” he commented.

“There are so many unbelievable names on that board. So from my perspective, it’s an honour, something that I am proud of and hopefully something that I can build on in the future,” Smith, 29, said.

He expressed his surprise that Pakistan went into the match with only four bowlers and said with Wahab Riaz suffering a strain, Pakistan would be facing a difficult time on day two.

Pakistan team manage Intikhab Alam said Riaz is a doubtful starter for the remainder of the match.

“Pitch was soft and it was difficult to score. But I kept rotating the strike and built a good score at the end of the day,” he said.

Smith and Alviro Petersen gave South Africa a flying start with a 153-run opening stand.

Petersen smashed nine boundaries in his knock of 67.

Riaz was the best of the bowlers snaring two 61 in 16 overs. Abdul Rehman took one wicket for 91 runs in 27 overs of left arm spin.

In-form Amla reached his 17th half century in his 47th Test and it was spiced with five hits to boundary. Veteran Kallis took 32 balls to hit his first boundary later batted in usual style with flair.

After scoring 101-0 in the first session, South Africa scored 96 runs for the loss of two wickets at tea break before they added 104 runs in the final session.

Pakistan went into the match with two pacers Umer Gul and Wahab Riaz and spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal.

Smith and Alviro Petersen batted in a contrasting fashion. Petersen was in a daring mood striking eight boundaries in reaching his fifty off just 69 balls in 100 minutes. While right handed Petersen hit some lovely driving and cutting, veteran left hander Smith batted in subdued fashion against Pakistan’s pace cum spin attack.