Related Links : Pak in South Africa : Scorecard
Jacques Kallis has kept Pakistan’s fight under a check in their second innings as he got rid of Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Hameed. At close on Day 3, the visitors are ahead by just one run with eight second innings wickets standing. If Pakistan can put up a couple of good partnerships, then the opening test match could well go Pakistan’s way.
Resuming at a strong 254 for 4, South Africa went onto make 417, which gave them a 104-run first innings lead. Ashwell Prince, the overnight batsman completed his 6th test match century. The left hander was the first to go on the third day having made 138. His innings contained 19 fours. Herschelle Gibbs, the other overnight batsman fell just six short of what could have been a 15th test match hundred. Shaun Pollock was the other significant contributor for SA with an unbeaten 39 which had 5 fours and a six. For Mohammad Asif, it was a third five-wicket haul in just his 7th test. His figures were very impressive with five for 89 in 27.5 overs. Danish Kaneria had to toil hard for his three wickets but was very economical as he gave away only 97 runs in the 41 overs he bowled.
In their second innings, Pakistan got off to yet another solid start from Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat. But that was changed soon with the third ball that Kallis had delivered in this innings as he got Hafeez induced in playing a false drive to be taken in the slips. The breakthrough had come only in the 15th over. Very soon, Kallis had Pakistan on the backfoot by picking up the wicket of Yasir Hameed who got a thin edge playing a loose stroke. The inroads were made by Kallis but the Proteas couldn’t get any other wicket for the remaining part of the day’s play. Pakistan closed the session and the day at 103 for 2 with Imran Farhat on 41 and Younis Khan on 32 who had to bat out a tricky session which saw some drizzling and the natural light quickly fading.