The final session saw nine wickets fall for 53 runs as the Proteas were toppled for 262 before Vernon Philander’s double strike saw Pakistan end day one on 17-2 writes KHALID MOHIDIN.
It started off as a perfect day for the Proteas batsmen, but a final session collapse saw the visitors claw their way back into the contest.
Aiden Markram set the tone for the hosts. He looked comfortable on his way to a fifth career century, hitting 16 fours for his 90, but for the third time in his short career, he lost his wicket unluckily in the naughty 90s.
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Amla too, looked comfortable at the crease. He ground his way to 41 with some gorgeous signature drives along the way, before he played at a ball short of a length just outside off and succeeded only in edging it to Asad Shafiq, who hung on to a delightful two-handed catch at slip.
This brought the 100th post-isolation Protea, Zubayr Hamza, to the crease and he showed his class instantly as he climbed to 38 by tea. De Bruyn also showed his class to move to 48.
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The final session saw Pakistan take seven wickets for 36 runs in what can be described as a spectacular fight-back from the Pakistan seamers.
De Bruyn was the first Proteas batsman to lose his wicket after the break. He first survived an umpire’s call on an LBW review, only to be trapped leg-before just moments later with his score on 49, Mohammed Abbass taking his second wicket of the innings. Temba Bavuma was next to go after scoring only eight runs.
Hamza struggled to get going again after tea and lost his wicket with his score on 41 after he tried to pull his bat out of the way of an outswinger, edging it into the safe hands of Sarfraz Ahmed, his second catch off Mohammad Amir in the innings.
The tail followed in rapid succession, with Vernon Philander dismissed after scoring just a single, and Kagiso Rabada going for a duck. Quinton de Kock hit some lovely boundaries before he fell for 18, with Duanne Olivier scoring a duck to close the Proteas innings.
After a superb start to the day, the hosts had been bundled out for 262, with Faheem Ashraf being the pick of the Pakistan bowlers (3-57).
Pakistan came out to bat for the final nine overs of the day, but Philander gave his side the perfect boost by dismissing danger men Shan Masood (two) and Azhar Ali (duck) with consecutive deliveries.
South Africa 262 – Aiden Markram (90), Theunis de Bruyn (48); Faheem Ashraf (3-57), Mohammad Amir (2-36)
Pakistan 13-2 – Imam-ul-Haq (10 not out), Mohammad Abbas (0 not out); Vernon Philander (2-1)
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
