South Africa’s four-man pace attack battered the Pakistan top order on a bruising first morning of the second Test at Newlands.
Having sent Pakistan in to bat first, the Proteas opened with Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. Both bowlers got substantial movement in the air and life out of the pitch on a perfect day at Newlands.
Pakistan looked to be weathering the first few overs well, before a devastating seven-over spell from the Proteas saw Pakistan reduced to 19-3.
Fakhar Zaman was the first to go, fending off a throat ball from Steyn that looped to Temba Bavuma at gully, followed by Imam-ul-Haq, who was trapped leg-before by Philander. After much speculation in the days leading up to this Test, Duanne Olivier justified his inclusion with the wicket of Azhar Ali after some fiery bowling, the batter caught in the slips by Hashim Amla.
Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq weathered the storm to take Pakistan past 50 before Shafiq fell in the 19th over after scoring 20 off 26 balls (4×4), Dean Elgar taking a screamer at third slip off Kagiso Rabada.
Olivier then knocked over Babar Azam for two to leave Pakistan reeling on 54-5. Azam scored a fine 71 in the first Test, but had no answer to a rising throat ball from Olivier, with the ball ballooning to Faf du Plessis in the slips.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed put his pair in the first Test behind him, racing to 16 runs off 16 balls as Pakistan went to lunch on 75-5, with Shan Masood undefeated on 17 off 48 balls.
The Proteas bowlers each had a wicket behind their name, with Olivier (2-19) enjoying the best figures.
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
