An enthralling day's Test cricket. Pakistan proved they weren't just here to make up the numbers against the world's number 1 team, and finished the day on top having dismissed the South Africans for what should be a below par score.

Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Teams:

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali

South Africa: Graeme Smith*, Alviro Peterson, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kalli, AB De Villiers†, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn


Day 1

The much awaited Test series between Pakistan and the world’s number 1 side, South Africa, commenced in Johannesburg with Graeme Smith winning the toss in his 100th match as captain, and electing to bat first. The South African XI was as expected, with a powerful batting lineup backed up by three world class pacers, with Robin Peterson getting the nod ahead of Imran Tahir. Pakistan meanwhile, surprised many by giving a debut to Rahat Ali ahead of Mohammad Irfan, with Nasir Jamshed also playing his first Test.

The morning session proved to be as good as Test cricket can get. Some fabulous, testing bowling from Junaid Khan was unable to get through the defences of Smith and Alviro Peterson, and gradually the two batsmen managed to start pushing the score along. Rahat Ali proved to be unthreatening and was taken out of the attack when nine were taken from his fourth over.

Inevitably, it was Junaid Khan that provided Pakistan with the breakthrough, as Peterson was squared up and could only lob a catch to third slip where Hafeez took it easily. Four balls later, another crucial blow was landed, this time by Umar Gul, when Smith edged through to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. Two quick wickets had suddenly changed the complexion of the game, but it brought together two of the world’s top batsmen, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, who saw the Proteas safely through to lunch.

Amla and Kallis continued comfortably after lunch, with Rahat Ali again proving expensive, Kallis twice scoring two consecutive boundaries off his bowling. He brought up another high quality half century, his 58th, with a whip behind square leg, but fortunately for Pakistan was unable to go on as Umar Gul dismissed him thanks to a screamer of a catch from Asad Shafiq. Kallis top-edged a pull shot and Shafiq took a brilliant catch diving full-stretch at deep mid-wicket to leave South Africa 125/3.

In the 46th over, Misbah-Ul-Haq surprisingly turned to Younis Khan’s medium pace, and it took him just four deliveries to strike. Amla slashed hard at a wide one and a superb catch in the gully by Azhar Ali resulted in another wicket. It left South Africa on 135/4 and in a spot of bother, as Faf du Plessis joined AB de Villiers at the crease, but both batsmen managed to survive until tea.

The pair continued to make steady progress, but du Plessis may have been fortunate to survive a huge appeal and a referral from Pakistan, as he appeared to edge one from Rahat Ali. The technology proved inconclusive however, and the decision remained with the umpire. Another big appeal was also referred shortly afterwards, this time off the bowling of Saeed Ajmal. The spinner was certain there was an edge down the leg-side, but again, hot-spot showed nothing and the appeal was turned down.

Misbah’s bowling changes worked a treat once again when Mohammad Hafeez was brought into the attack for the first time. His first ball took the edge of de Villiers’ bat and Sarfraz made no mistake to leave the batting side 199/5.

Du Plessis soon became the 6th South African batsman to score at least 20 but not go on and make a big one. He played a forward defensive to Junaid Khan but the ball eventually rolled back and hit the stumps to give the bowler his second wicket. That wicket triggered a spectacular collapse, as Mohammad Hafeez suddenly ran through the South African tail. Peterson and Morkel were bowled, Elgar was caught behind and Philander was run out. South Africa were suddenly all out for 253 and Pakistan had two overs to bat.

Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed saw off the threat of Philander and Steyn to end the day 6-0.

Fall Of Wickets

46-1 (Petersen, 18.3 ov), 
46-2 (Smith, 19.1 ov), 
125-3 (Kallis, 39.4 ov), 
135-4 (Amla, 45.3 ov), 
199-5 (de Villiers, 70.1 ov),
232-6 (du Plessis, 78.2 ov),
239-7 (Peterson, 81.6 ov), 
240-8 (Elgar, 83.1 ov), 
243-9 (Philander, 83.6 ov), 
253-10 (Morkel, 85.2 ov)

Summary:

An enthralling day's Test cricket. Pakistan proved they weren't just here to make up the numbers against the world's number 1 team, and finished the day on top having dismissed the South Africans for what should be a below par score. Mohammad Hafeez produced incredible figures of 4-16, and Misbah had yet another excellent day in the field as captain. The review system produced some unusual results and there will certainly be much more debate on this in the coming days.

The bowlers have done their job and put Pakistan in an excellent position in the Test match. Now it's up to the batsmen to nullify the threat of Steyn, Philander and Morkel. Whatever happens, the world will no doubt sit up and watch the rest of this match with interest, to see if Pakistan can do it again to the world's number 1 side.