Markram finds his form to put South Africa in control of Test
Opener Aiden Markram made a return to form as he scored 78 to help South Africa into a strong position on the opening day of the second test against Pakistan at Newlands.
Markram’s contribution put South Africa on 123-2 at close on Thursday, 54 runs behind after bowling out Pakistan for 177 at tea.
South Africa, who won the first of the three-test series by six wickets in Pretoria last week, will be confident of building a substantial first-innings lead after their four-man seam attack ripped through the Pakistan batting line-up.
The 24-year-old Markram, who struggled on tour in Sri Lanka in July and in the Boxing Day test against Pakistan, was bowled on the last ball of the day by Shan Masood.
Hashim Amla, who is 24 not out, will resume on Friday with captain Faf du Plessis, who went for a pair in the first Test.
“We have to start well again and build those partnerships,” said veteran bowler Dale Steyn after the close.
The solid home batting performance contrasted with Pakistan’s opening innings as they were flayed with a constant barrage of pace.
“South Africa were pretty unrelenting with all their quicks [pace bowlers],” Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said.
“We have no option but to come in tomorrow and first look to control the run rate, hopefully building pressure and get wickets.”
Duanne Olivier added to his 11 wickets in the first test with four more as Du Plessis’ decision to put Pakistan into bat, and go with a seam-only attack on a quick wicket, was vindicated.
All four fast bowlers picked up wickets, with most of the Pakistan batsmen looking vulnerable against fast, shortpitched deliveries.
Pakistan were teetering at 75-5 at lunch and lost five more wickets before tea despite 56 from captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who went out to an injudicious uppercut shot just when a fightback looked on the cards for the tourists.
Masood made 44 with Olivier’s figures of 4-48 bookended by Steyn, who took the first wicket of the day and the last two of the Pakistan innings for 3-48.
As at Centurion, where he had match figures of 11 for 96, Olivier lived up to the “enforcer” tag given him by captain Faf du Plessis, regularly landing the ball in his own half of the pitch and making it rear up towards the batsmen.
Unlike Centurion, the pitch itself was not a major factor in Pakistan’s collapse. It was hard and there was some green grass on the surface but the bounce was largely true and there was no exaggerated sideways movement.
The only ball that misbehaved markedly was the last of the day when part-time seamer Masood bowled Markram with a ball which nipped back and kept low.
Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s most experienced batsman, fell to a short ball from Olivier for the third time in a row, fending tamely to first slip. Five of his teammates also were dismissed by short deliveries.
Pakistan’s batting was put into perspective when Markram and Dean Elgar put on 56 for the first wicket at almost five runs an over.
Mohammad Amir put a brake on the scoring by having Elgar caught behind during a second spell in which he conceded only eight runs in five overs but Markram and Hashim Amla steadily built a second wicket stand of 67 off 109 balls.
Markram, who had not reached 20 in his previous six Test innings, struck the ball firmly in reaching a half-century off 64 balls with 11 fours.
He added another three fours and a straight six off legspinner Yasir Shah before being surprised by Masood at the end of the day after a 96-ball innings.