Sunday, November 14, 2010

Proteas dismiss Pakistan for 248, gain 132-run lead

Proteas dismiss Pakistan for 248, gain 132-run lead DUBAI: South Africa progressed steadily to increase their lead after paceman Morne Morkel took a five-wicket haul against Pakistan on the third day of the first Test here on Sunday.

South Africa reached 47-1 in their second innings at tea, having an overall lead of 179 after Morkel dismissed Pakistan for 248 with a sustained spell of fast bowling during which he took four wickets for ten runs in seven overs.

Graeme Smith, who hit 100 in the first innings, was unbeaten on 20 as Alviro Petersen fell leg-before to spinner Abdul Rehman for 26 in the last over before the break.

The 26-year-old Morkel, who registered his third five-wicket haul in his 27th Test, helped South Africa take the last five Pakistani wickets in the space of 34 runs after they were 214-5 at lunch.

Morkel, who built on off-spinner Johan Botha's three wicket haul in the first session, fired with the second new-ball, removing Azhar Ali (56), Rehman (one), Wahab Riaz (five) and Saeed Ajmal (two) to finish with 5-54.

His effort gave South Africa, who made 380 in the first innings, a lead of 132.

Ali fought a lone battle, hitting five boundaries during his defiant 172-ball knock.

Earlier, Botha dismissed Younis Khan (35), skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (nine) and Umar Akmal (four) in 38 balls to derail Pakistan who resumed the day at 144-2.

South Africa piled on the pressure with five close-in fielders to keep the batsmen in check and the tactic paid off as Botha induced Younis to drive uppishly towards short mid-wicket, where AB de Villiers pulled off a diving catch.

Younis, playing his first Test since July last year because of a disciplinary ban, hit three boundaries.

Misbah, leading Pakistan for the first time, also fell victim to close-in fielding when a Botha delivery turned sharply and the ensuing edge was picked off by a diving Hashim Amla at short-leg.

Umar played a reckless shot trying to loft Botha over long-off but got a leading edge towards point where Steyn took a simple catch before Morkel destroyed the tail-end.

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