Pakistan vs South Africa 2013: 2nd Test - Day 1: Tahir and Steyn rout Pakistan; SA solid in reply

Imran Tahir (C) of South Africa jubilates after bowling Pakistan’s Captain Misbah Ul-Haq during the first day of the second Test match between Pakistan and South Africa in Dubai on October 23, 2013.

South Africa have got off to a very good start in the second Test match against Pakistan, bowling out their opposition for a paltry 99 and in reply, ending the day one on 128/3. With a lead of 29 runs and captain Graeme Smith remaining unbeaten on 67* off 138, Pakistan have an extremely difficult road ahead if they are to make a match out of it at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE.

If there were any fears on this series going the same way as the Pakistan vs England series (in 2012) did, in which the then number one ranked team was not just whitewashed 3-0 but embarrassed with their utter incompetence against quality spin bowling coming to light, Dale Steyn brushed aside all those doubts by making his team’s intentions clear with a brilliant first spell.

Khurram Manzoor, after being beaten comprehensively off the very first delivery of the match, was dismissed when he edged an out-swinger from Dale Steyn to Faf du Plessis at gully for a two-ball duck. The second-wicket pair of Azhar Ali and Shan Masood did very well to see off the initial burst from Steyn, while Vernon Philander did not pose any problems from the other end. 16.2 overs later, the floodgates were opened when Morne Morkel trapped Azhar Ali infront, for a 54-ball 19, with an indipper.

While Masood (21 off 60) was bowled by Imran Tahir with a delivery coming in from around the wicket, Dale Steyn returned to send back Younis Khan (10) caught behind, after tormenting him during his short stay. At 60/4, it was a familiar territory for Misbah-ul-Haq to walk-in. Only this time, there was no rearguard action. The double wicket over from Tahir, which saw the dismissals of Misbah (2) – trapped lbw by a googly and Adnan Akmal (1) – cleaned up with a quick straight delivery, was the final nail in the coffin.

The tail was cleaned up without much of an effort, with Tahir picking up two more wickets to complete a spectacular comeback to international cricket, after getting canned by Australia in his last Test appearance in November 2012 where his match figures read 37-1-260-0. Steyn had three wickets to his name but should take the major chunk of credit for setting up the assault on Pakistan.

In reply, South Africa lost Alviro Petersen (26), whose life at the crease was made difficult by Mohammad Irfan. Just when he got off the shackles with a hat-trick of boundaries against the same bowler, he was trapped plumb in front by Zulfiqar Babar. With Dean Elgar and Graeme Smith putting together a 50-run partnership, the visitors looked well set to end on a strong note before Saeed Ajmal late strikes late in the day reduced them to 128/3.

Elgar (23) was sent back after being caught brilliantly at short-leg, while Jacques Kallis was declared lbw – playing down the wrong line against an off-break. However, with Smith remaining unbeaten and the likes of AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis to follow, South Africa need to play very badly from now on to even entertain any thoughts of losing the match.