Remembering the last time Pakistan won a Test in South Africa
Pakistan's tour of South Africa kicks off from tomorrow, with the first Test to be played at the iconic SuperSport park in Centurion. The tour will begin with three Tests followed by five ODIs and three T20Is, lasting all the way until February.
When it comes to the head to head record in Test matches played in South Africa, these two teams have clashed against each other on 12 occasions in which South Africa have managed to win nine Tests and lose two.
South Africa start off as favorites considering their home advantage and the stability they possess in their squad. On the other hand, Pakistan are coming off a series loss at home against New Zealand and will start as the underdogs.
Just like any other Asian team, Pakistan are yet to win a Test series in South Africa. And this tour presents an ideal opportunity for Sarfraz Ahmed and his men to create history.
Pakistan's batting is their primary concern. With the likes of Dale Steyn returning to the national team, the visitors' batsmen would have an uphill task of facing the pace duo of Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada.
It has been more than a decade since Pakistan last won a Test in South Africa. Let us take a brief look back at that memorable match from 2007.
Rawalpindi Express rips apart the South African batting
Electing to bat first after winning the toss at Port Elizabeth, the South African batsman were blown away by the pace duo of Shoaib Akthar and Mohammad Asif. The two picked up a bunch of crucial wickets, and at one stage South Africa were struggling at 7-89.
Mark Boucher added 35 runs and finished as the top scorer for the team. South Africa were bundled out for 124 in 40 overs.
Akthar was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets, while Asif chipped in with 2 wickets and the leggie Danish Kaneria picked up 3.
Skipper Inzamam plays a captain's knock
Pakistan's first innings got off to a disastrous start as they lost their opener Imran Farhat in the very first over, to the bowling of Makhaya Ntini. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and at one stage Pakistan were struggling at 7-166, leading by a mere 42 runs.
However, it was the turn of skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to show his class. Inzamam played with grit and determination while facing the South African bowlers; batting at number 8, he added 74 valuable runs with the number 11 Mohammad Asif to propel the score to 265.
Inzamam remained not out on 92 and Pakistan had a lead of 141 runs after the first innings.
In reply, South Africa lost skipper Graeme Smith in the 9th over off the bowling of Mohammad Asif. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and at one stage South Africa were tottering at 4-117.
However, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs stitched together a good partnership and bailed the South Africans out of trouble for a brief period. Kallis was dismissed for 91 and at that point South Africa were leading by 64 runs.
Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock added some later order impetus but it was never enough as the Proteas were dismissed for 331 with a lead of 190 runs.
Asif was the pick of the bowlers with 5 wickets, and Kaneria picked up 4.
Younis Khan leads the way to an emphatic win
Chasing the target of 191, Pakistan yet again lost Imran Farhat early in the innings. Wickets fell in quick succession after that, with the likes of Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Hafeez being dismissed before the score reached 50.
At 48-3, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf steadied the ship; the two veterans added 39 runs for the fourth wicket. Yousuf's patient knock of 18 ended when he edged one to gully off the bowling of Shaun Pollock.
Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq followed immediately, when Makhaya Ntini trapped him in front of the stumps to leave Pakistan struggling at 92-5.
However, a calm and composed Younis in partnership with Kamran Akmal ensured no further damage was done. The two batsmen struck together a match winning unbeaten partnership of 99 to guide Pakistan to a memorable victory.
Younis remained not out on 67, while Kamran Akmal stroked his way to a breezy 57 off 64 deliveries. Pakistan cruised home with 5 wickets to spare, and for his brilliant 92 in the first innings, Inzamam was adjudged Man of the Match.