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Pakistan vs SA 1st Test

Saturday, October 18 2003

Pakistan vs South Africa, !st Test Match,
Day1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
17th October 2003

A much talked about Test Series started today with South Africa looking to continue the positive momentum developed during the one day series. A day of mixed fortunes for which ever side you were supported saw a flying start, a batsman retiring hurt, and quick wickets.

Visiting Captain Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat first. Looking to immediately take the initiative Smith launched an attack on Shoaib Ahktar, hitting him out the attack and effectively negating on major threat to his unsettled middle order. Ahktars new ball partner Mohammed Sami started brightly, bowling to his field and occasionally passing the outside edge with the new ball. Despite struggling with no-balls (11 in the day) Sami picked up the South African skipper, tempting Smith with a short wide delivery which he only managed to sky the ball to Asim Kamal. South Africa had raced along to 52 in the 12th over before veteran Gary Kirsten joined a subdued Herschelle Gibbs at the crease.

Despite Gibbs being short of full form the pair continued to advance steadily before Gibbs was eventually out, edging a drive to Taufeeq Umar at first slip. An uncharacteristic innings had come to an end, Gibbs managing 27 runs off 60 deliveries with 3 boundries leaving South Africa 84 for 2.

As South Africa continued through the morning session and into Lunch it looked as if a big total was likely. Lackluster bowling and sloppy fielding gave both batsmen lifelines and they looked to have settled down, sweeping the bowlers at a drop of the hat, though Kallis was lucky to not be given out sweeping a quick full ball from Danish Kaneria. The pair seemed to be making the most of Pakistan’s missed chances until debutant captain Yousuf Youhana brought Ahktar back into the attack.

Perhaps it was his earlier mauling at the hands of Smith but Ahktar tore in, rushing the usually unflappable Kallis and beating the outside edge three times in an over. Next over Kallis was still glued to the crease and though unlucky to be given out edged behind, it was definitely Ahktars brute force which made him freeze.

Continuing after lunch, Kirsten caressed a boundary to reach his 50 but was not expecting the reacting from Ahktar. A short rising ball rushed Kirsten for pace and in attempting a pull shot the ball squeezed through the visor, striking his cheekbone. Kirsten was rushed away to hospital and South Africa had lost their two batsmen most capable of playing a long patient innings so required on the sub-continent.

Fired up, Ahktar charged in at new batsman Neil McKenzie, exploding at the crease and sending down an in-swinging yorker first ball for which McKenzie had no reply. McKenzie could consider himself a touch unlucky as replays show he was possibly struck just outside the line of off-stump but he was beaten for pace and the umpire gave the decision Ahktars way.

With the South African innings threatening to fall to Ahktars pace and swing, Mark Boucher came in an played a memorable innings, sweeping the spinners and defending against a fired up Shoaib. Along with the in-form Boeta Dippenaar and all-rounder Shaun Pollock South Africa crept over the 300 mark. Boucher’s innings eventually came to an end in the 72nd over. He had scored 72 runs off 96 deliveries with 11 boundaries and had held the South African lower order together against a up-beat Pakistan bowling line-up.

Once Pollock fell for 18 in the 79th over the innings looked to be drawing to a close with only the bowlers to come. Paul Adams though had other ideas as he hung around with Andre Nel and then Makhaya Ntini to strike some cheeky boundaries until Shoaib Malik had Ntini caught at silly mid on with a bat pad chance.

With 7 overs remaining in the day the umpires decided the light wasn’t good enough for Pakistan to start their innings which could have been a blessing in disguise as it would have been a very difficult and testing end to the day for Pakistan’s opening batsmen who would have everything to lose.

End of Day 1:
South Africa 320 all out (MV Boucher 72, G Kirsten 53* retired hurt, Shoaib Malik 17-4-42-4, Shoaib Akhtar 14-1-62-2)


Posted by Rupert