Pakistan take gainful lead after solid start against South Africa

Pakistan closed the day at 263-3 after South Africa had been bowled out for 249.


Reuters October 15, 2013
Pakistan's opener Khurram Manzoor (R) bats as South African wicketkeeper AB de Villiers looks on during the second day of their first Test at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on October 15, 2013. PHOTO: AFP

ABU DHABI: Batsman Khurram Manzoor scored a maiden test century as Pakistan overhauled South Africa's total on the second day of the first test in Abu Dhabi for the loss of three wickets on Tuesday.

Manzoor was unbeaten on 131 as Pakistan ended on 263 for three, a lead of 14 runs over South Africa who were bowled out for 249 early in the morning session.

Manzoor became the first Pakistan batsman in a decade to score a test century against South Africa, whose much-vaunted pace attack toiled with little success on a flat track at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Playing in only his 10th test, Manzoor dealt confidently with the bowling as he and debutant Shan Masood built the foundation with an opening wicket stand of 135.

They were the first opening pair to compile a century partnership in Pakistan's last 24 test innings, the previous one coming when the side beat England in Dubai in early 2012.

Masood scored 75 before being trapped lbw by spinner JP Duminy, showing plenty of maturity as he shrugged off a barrage of short deliveries and verbal abuse from an increasingly frustrated South African attack.

The Proteas managed to take two wickets in the last session of the day, including the prizes scalp of Younus Khan for one when he gloved the ball to gully attempting to fend off a short ball from Morne Morkel.

But captain Misbahul Haq (44 not out) saw to it that the team went in without losing another wicket. He will resume on Wednesday with Manzoor after surviving a scare as South Africa took the second new ball just before close.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith claimed a catch in the slips but television replays showed it had fallen short of his fingers.

Earlier, South Africa resumed on 245 for eight. But they could add just four runs to their overnight score in four overs as they lost their last two wickets cheaply.

Hashim Amla, who had been the outstanding performer of the opening day, was out to the second ball of the morning, edging to slip for 118. It was the third wicket of the innings for giant seamer Mohammad Irfan (3-44).

The second match of the two-test series starts on October 23 in Dubai.

COMMENTS (2)

Kiran Muzammil | 10 years ago | Reply

See what happens when you finally play young players instead of the old tried and tested failures like Hafeez, Farhat, Malik, Taufiq, etc? Now the next step should be to ease Younis Khan down the order and play someone like Sohaib Maqsood or Harris Sohail in his place so that the team is prepared for the time Misbah and Younis retire or are dropped due to form and age. Secondly, Ajmal needs to be dropped as well - he has been busy running his mouth and not doing much with the ball for quite a while, and its time we begin to groom Raza Hassan and Usman Qadir as our frontline spinners to replace Ajmal, Rehman etc who are on the wrong side of 30.

abu walid abu salam | 10 years ago | Reply

what exactly is a gainful lead and how does it differ for a 'regular' lead?

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