Rahat Ali’s three-wicket haul on Friday helped force South Africa onto the back foot in going to tea at 201-5 on the opening day of the third test against Pakistan.
Leading 2-0 in the three-test series, South Africa had been again looking dominant in reaching 186-3, but Ali struck twice just before tea to turn things around for Pakistan at Centurion.
Ali ended a 79-run partnership for the fourth wicket when Hashim Amla was caught behind for 92, and he then trapped Dean Elgar lbw for 7 in his next over.
AB de Villiers was unbeaten on 40 at the close of the second session, while Robin Peterson was 2 not out.
Ali had figures of 3-57 from 13 overs, while Ehsan Adil took 2-39 from eight overs.
Scoreboard
South Africa — 1st innings: G. Smith c Younis b Ehsan 5, A. Petersen lbw b Rahat 10, H. Amla c Sarfraz b Rahat 92, F. du Plessis c Sarfraz b Ehsan 29, A. de Villiers (batting) 98, D. Elgar lbw b Rahat 7, R. Peterson (run out) 28, V. Philander (batting) 45, Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-11, w-4): 20, Total (for six wkts. in 85 overs): 334.
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-38, 3-107, 4-186, 5-196, 6-248.
Pakistan bowling: Irfan 16.5-3-59-0, Rahat 20-1-95-3, Ehsan 12.1-2-54-2, Ajmal 26-5-70-0, Younis 3-0-14-0, Hafeez 5-0-24-0, Azhar 2-0-13-0
Published - February 22, 2013 02:24 pm IST