AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 98
AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 98 and Hashim Amla suffered nervous nineties as South Africa claimed the honours of the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Centurion on Friday.
After elected to bat South Africa slumped to 3-107 following the cheap dismissals of
AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 98 and Hashim Amla suffered nervous nineties as South Africa claimed the honours of the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Centurion on Friday.
After elected to bat South Africa slumped to 3-107 following the cheap dismissals of Alviro Petersen (10), skipper Graeme Smith (5) and Faf du Plessis (29), De Villiers and Amla shared a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket to ensure the hosts reach 334-6 at stumps.
Having lost the series already after losing in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Pakistan included two rookie bowlers – Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil – who were responsible for South Africa’s first five dismissals.
Left-arm seamer Rahat, playing his second Test, produced the figures of 3-95 while teen spinner Adil finished with 2-54 but none of the other bowlers including lanky pacer Mohammad Irfan and magician Saeed Ajmal could pick a wicket, with latter emerging as the most economical bowler by conceding 70 runs in 26 overs.
Amla was desperate towards his 20th Test ton but Rahat snapped up his anticipation on 92 by edging him to gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. His 128-ball knock was laced with 13 boundaries.
Well-set De Villiers continued to drive his side towards competitiveness and shared a 52-run sixth-wicket stand with Robin Petersen (28), who got run out following a mix-up with his partner.
De Villiers found another able ally in Vernon Philander (45 not out) and stitched up another 86 runs with him for seventh wicket.
De Villiers faced 179 balls and stuck 13 boundaries.
