Evening session – South Africa 245/8
Spin was always going to be Pakistan’s way this series but most might have expected Saeed Ajmal or even Abdur Rehman to be at the crest of that strategy. It was the most pleasant surprise then that it was Zulfiqar Babar, Pakistan’s third-oldest debutante, who kept them on top in an entertaining final session of the first day.
Babar had gone wicketless for 17 overs, before he dismissed a well-set JP Duminy. He quickly took two more wickets thereafter as South Africa ended the first day on 245 for 8. Less surprising was the fact that Hashim Amla was the man Pakistan could not best, the South African ending the day unbeaten on 118, his 20th Test hundred.
South African began the final session on the verge of taking control; Amla and Duminy did not look in any difficulty, the surface was flattening out nicely and the heat had taken a toll on Pakistan’s bowlers. Mohammad Irfan went off two balls into an over with cramp and Pakistan briefly looked in real trouble.
Duminy swept repeatedly, bringing up an impish fifty with one. But it brought about his downfall as midway through the session, having just been dropped by Adnan Akmal, he top-edged Babar to square leg. Buoyed, Babar had Faf du Plessis caught well at slip and quickly followed it by going right through Robin Peterson.
Amla, meanwhile, was unconcerned. He had slowed down over the course of the afternoon, eventually bringing up his hundred with a quiet push to long-off.
Saeed Ajmal, looking increasingly like a man who has bowled the most international overs since January 2011, trapped Vernon Philander on the back foot and suddenly, the day was Pakistan’s – and Amla’s. Dale Steyn bashed away usefully at the end, hitting Babar for six and smashing a straight drive off Junaid.
With Pakistan’s batting such a concern, on balance that left the day dead even.
Afternoon session – South Africa 152/4
The afternoon sun kicked in and so did some semblance of order, as South Africa worked their way to a recovery of sorts. Hashim Amla - who else? - and a sprightly JP Duminy took their side to 152 for 4, a far more comfortable state of affairs than they lunched at.
Progress was sedate and inevitable, as much to do with a first-day surface as with the sheer depth of South Africa’s batting: there is no easy wicket in this XI. Amla was the man stitching the entire session together, wispily elegant, resolutely steadfast throughout in casually notching up a 28th Test fifty. He has a fantastic conversion rate too, which means he could be around for some time.
His intent was clear right after the break, an imperious cover drive off Junaid Khan getting things going. He punched Saeed Ajmal off the back foot through the same area, scooped Zulfiqar Baber again in that direction before a politely dismissive pull off Junaid brought up the fifty.
Pakistan kept their discipline admirably through what felt, even indoors, a stiflingly hot session. They were rewarded by AB de Villiers’ laziness. Having survived a leg-before appeal against Baber, he held the pose. His backfoot was on the line as Adnan Akmal whipped off the bails once Younis Khan had returned the ball to the keeper. Numerous replays on appeal confirmed he was out.
Duminy is a nervy starter, especially to spin but he upped the tempo with a dainty little cameo. Using his feet well, Baber and Ajmal were both dispatched for boundaries, the straight six of Ajmal a particularly ominous blow. Ajmal bowled unchanged through the afternoon from the South end and though troubled on occasion, South Africa again played him out without alarm.
It left the day, not the session, nicely poised; Amla looks good on 71 for another ton and Duminy has already danced his way to 36.
Morning session – South Africa 66/3
A livelier opening session in Abu Dhabi than might have been reasonably expected left South Africa at 66 for 3. More is the surprise that it was made possible by incisive opening spells from Pakistan’s pacemen, Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan.
Irfan, back in the Test side after his debut series against the same opponents earlier this year, was the bigger danger initially, his steeper bounce with a harder new ball troubling both Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith. Sure enough, as early as the third over, Petersen was fending off to short leg, where debutante Shan Masood held on.
Most impressive perhaps was Irfan’s control, a strict adherence to an off-stump line particularly to Smith. South Africa’s captain is returning after a length break for injury and looked every bit as rusty as a five-month break should make a batsman; he slashed over slips for a boundary, inside edged another and was beaten several times. Not long after though he was gone, edging behind; he was given not out but Pakistan’s review proved a clear, audible nick.
Hashim Amla, meanwhile, looked unruffled - a default setting - even when edging low to slip or escaping a potential run-out. The morning’s first authoritative shot came off his bat, a lovely cover drive of the other debutante Zulfiqar Baber scooped over covers.
A more orthodox cover drive off Junaid heralded drinks, but Pakistan were buoyed soon after when Junaid sent back Jacques Kallis. It was beautifully conceived, from round the wicket, the ball breaking back and catching Kallis’ inside edge. It was deserved reward too.
Nothing further till lunch other than three picture-perfect boundaries. Two came from AB de Villiers, including a peach off the back foot through covers. By then the pitch was beginning to look more like an Abu Dhabi pitch and both de Villiers and Amla looking like they know it.
