Pak collapse as Olivier returns 5/51
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s fiery seamer Duanne Olivier took five wickets as the hosts made heavy work of bowling Pakistan out for 185 in their first innings on Day Two of the third and final Test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
South Africa went to tea on 25 for one in their second innings, a lead of 102 as they seek to drive home their advantage in search of a series clean sweep.
Aiden Markram (17 not out) and Hashim Amla (1 not out) will resume in the evening session on a wicket that has some sideways movement but is still excellent for batting on the second day.
South Africa might have been much further ahead had they not had a poor opening session in the field when they dropped four fairly simple catches, missed a stumping and wasted two runout chances - good fortune that Pakistan could not capitalise on.
The tourists resumed on their overnight score of 17 for two and rode their luck through the first hour as South Africa spilled opportunities behind the wicket, with opener Imam-ul-haq (43) the main beneficiary of the home side’s profligacy.
Nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas (11) was also dropped twice off relatively simple opportunities and was eventually the first man out as Olivier (5-51) picked up two wickets in an over to end the home side’s frustration.
Abbas was caught by Theunis De Bruyn at slip and three balls later Asad Shafiq (0) left his hands and bat above his head as he tried to duck a bouncer and edged to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.
Imam’s luck finally ran out when he steered a Vernon Philander (3-43) delivery to Dean Elgar at slip to leave the tourists on 111 for five at lunch.
Brief scores at tea: South Africa 262 and 25-1 vs Pakistan 185 (Imam 43, B Azam 49, S Ahmed 50; V. Philander 3-43, K. Rabada 2-41, D. Olivier 5-51)
Pakistan batsman Haris Sohail on Friday rubbished reports that he was under a spell of black magic, saying he returned midway through the South Africa tour due to a knee injury.
“Such reports have also disturbed my family a lot. I have faced a knee injury problem again and that is why I had to miss the Test series in South Africa,” Sohail said.
The PCB also made it clear that Sohail had a knee problem and he would start his rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from Monday.
KARACHI :