2nd Test: Smith, De Villiers torment Pakistan on day two

South Africa captain reaches fifth double century to give side 361-run lead .

DUBAI:

Graeme Smith smashed a double century and AB de Villiers hit a robust hundred to guide South Africa to an imperious position in the must-win second Test against Pakistan in Dubai yesterday.

South Africa skipper made 227 not out for his fifth double ton while De Villiers – dropped off the first delivery by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal off paceman Mohammad Irfan – was unbeaten on 157 for his 17th Test century.

The duo plundered a hapless Pakistan attack to take South Africa to 460 for four at close on the second day, giving them a big 361-run lead with three full days to play to force a series-levelling win.

Thats a pretty good day... Read the script beautifully and knew my time was up this morn! Haha! Great knocks @ABdeVilliers17 @GraemeSmith49

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) October 24, 2013

Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi last week.

Smith and De Villiers have set an all time South African record for the fifth wicket in Tests with 326, beating the previous best of 267 set by Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince against the West Indies at Antigua in 2005.

The experienced duo plundered Pakistan’s spin-cum pace attack on the Dubai Stadium pitch which gave little help to the bowlers who only managed to dismiss nightwatchman Dale Steyn (seven) in the first hour. Smith reached his fifth double hundred with a couple off spinner Zulfiqar Babar towards mid-wicket, also completing 9,000 runs in 112 Tests.

He is the 12th batsmen in all Test cricket to reach 9,000 and second behind team-mate Jacques Kallis who so far has 13,140 runs in 164 Tests.

The South African captain, seeking to keep his team’s unbeaten run away from home since losing to Sri Lanka in 2006, raised his arms to the applause of his team-mates.

In all Smith has hit 16 boundaries off 367 deliveries of complete domination. De Villiers was in more punishing mood, having hit 16 boundaries and a six off 262 balls.

Got the big day that we wanted. Well played @GraemeSmith49 ,absolute pleasure batting with u. Need 2 grind it down tomorrow & then push hard

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 24, 2013

Pakistan took the new ball straightaway after the 80th over but it only upped the scoring rate with de Villiers hitting Irfan for two successive boundaries and one off Babar to bring up his fifty.

He also completed 1,000 runs against Pakistan in 12 Tests.

Pakistani spinners led by Saeed Ajmal ( two for 132) bowled tirelessly but failed to exploit any turn on a pitch that was expected to give slow bowlers help. Irfan had figures of one for 84 in 27 overs, while Babar had figures of one for 112.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2013.

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