Pakistan added runs quickly in the morning session to get 158 ahead and put the Proteas under immense pressure.
Pakistan came into day on 308-8 and added 70 runs in quick time. However, the more important stat is that Pakistan’s last six wickets added an incredible 351 runs to the total.
It would be remiss not to celebrate their skill, determination and application. However, apart from an excellent spell at the end of day one, the Proteas bowlers were impotent.
They had neither the technical skills or tactical astuteness to build any significant pressure on the Pakistan batsmen.
The fast bowlers struggled to exploit reverse swing to their advantage with the regularity they needed to, while the spinners posed very little threat. This brought a steady stream of runs, and was also responsible for Pakistan’s tail adding runs quickly in the morning session.
Eventually the Proteas dismissed them, but a lead of 158 puts them under immense pressure. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram survived through to lunch, but they will have to build a significant partnership if the Proteas hope to salvage anything from this Test.
