South Africa in position of strength

South Africa did just enough to keep a determined Pakistan attack at bay and reach a position of strength after two days in the third and final Castle Lager test at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

By the end of a second consecutive topsy-turvy day during which 13 wickets fell, the Proteas had moved along to 135 for five, which puts them 212 runs ahead of the visitors with all of three days remaining in the match.

At the crease for South Africa are Hashim Amla (42) and Quinton de Kock (34).

The Proteas, who made 262 in their first innings, dismissed Pakistan for 185 in the afternoon to give them a lead of 77. Fast bowler Duanne Olivier did the damage, taking his third “five for” for the series.

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But, as they have done so often in this series, the Pakistani quicks came out fighting to reduce South Africa to 45 for four, which effectively put South Africa only 122 ahead with five second innings wickets remaining.

However, Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma (23) dug in under some severe pressure from the visitors to stem the tide to a certain extent with a partnership of 48.

Left-arm quick Mohammad Amir was first to strike for Pakistan when he nicked off Dean Elgar to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for five, the same score the Proteas skipper made in the first innings.

First innings hero Aiden Markram (21) was next out, also caught by Sarfraz Ahmed off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas.

Seamer Faheem Ashraf then delivered a double blow, removing Theunis de Bruyn (7) and Zubayr Hamza (0). There would have been some concern in the SA camp at this stage but the stand between Amla and Bavuma got them back on track before the latter was dismissed by legspinner Shadab Khan.

Earlier, Olivier, who came into the match with 16 wickets from the first two tests, was at it again, tormenting the Pakistani batsmen with his accurate, short-pitched bowling. Having taken 5/59 and 6/37 in the first test in Centurion, Olivier completed his third “five for” by returning figures of five for 51 in 13 hostile overs.

Babar Azam (49) and Sarfraz Ahmed (50) saved Pakistan blushes with a partnership 78 for the sixth wicket.

Captain Ahmed was in no mood to just hang around, playing some entertaining strokes in his 40-ball innings. But he rode his luck once too often off Kagiso Rabada and edged one to Hashim Amla in the slips.

Olivier claimed his 21st victim of the series and his third career five-wicket haul when he had No 10 Mohammad Amir caught by Zubayr Hamza.

The Proteas did well to dismiss Pakistan for under 200 when one considers their poor fielding, especially in the first session. There were four dropped catches behind the wicket before lunch and another in the afternoon session. But their fast bowlers stuck to their task manfully and were ultimately rewarded.

Vernon Philander finished with three for 43 while Rabada took two for 41. Dale Steyn was desperately unlucky not to have claimed a wicket due to three missed catches.

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Report Day 1

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SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Zubayr Hamza, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali