• Home
• /
• Cricket

De Villiers, Kallis lift South Africa

Making his debut in international cricket at the other side of 30, Tanvir Ahmed couldn’t sleep at all on the eve of the Test after he was told he would be lining-up against South Africa.

His thoughts revolved around how to get South African captain Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis out.

And his first day under the sun in international cricket was like a dream as the 31-year-old, born in Kuwait, removed all three men to polish off the top order.

Tanvir finished the day with four off the five wickets to fall, but a South African rearguard ignited by Kallis and AB de Villiers ensured that the Proteas split honours after the first day of the second Test at Test cricket’s 103 venue—the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Kallis, who made 105, clubbed his way to his fastest hundred — his 37^th and fifth in four Tests against Pakistan. It was also his second hundred in the series.

De Villiers scored his 11^th hundred and the pair put on 179 for the fourth wicket after South Africa were tottering at 33 for 3. At stumps on a quite interesting day one, South Africa were 311 for 5, with AB de Villiers unbeaten on 120 with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher giving him company on 26.

There was moisture on the strip and Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq had no hesitation in putting South Africa in against his three-pronged pace attack.

Pakistan handed Test debuts to Tanvir and Asad Shafiq. Tanvir came in for Saeed Ajmal while Shafiq was in for the injured Wahab Riaz. The South African line-up remained unchanged.

Tanvir, who turns 32 next month, got his first wicket in international cricket, when he removed opener Alviro Petersen in the third ball of his first over. It was a full delivery and swung and took Petersen’s edge and was caught by captain Misbah-ul-Haq for two.

In the process, Tanvir became the sixth Pakistani to take a wicket in the first over. It was also Tanvir’s 400^th first class wicket. Tanvir picked up his second wicket in his next over, having No. 3 Hashim Amla caught by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal for four.

Amla was probably unlucky to be given out by umpire Asoka de Silva as television replays showed that Amla didn’t get an edge.

Despite the twin setback, South Africa tried to dominate with Smith and Kallis going on the attack against the quicks.

Kallis hoicked Tanvir for a massive six over deep square leg and then walloped comeback man Mohammed Sami, who had come in for the injured Wahab Riaz, for two consecutive boundaries.

Meanwhile, Smith too went on the attack, slamming two consecutive boundaries off Tanvir. But Tanvir had the last laugh by removing the South African captain for 10. Tanvir fired in a short of a good length delivery which was moving away outside off stump and Smith fished at it.

The edge was taken by Adnan Akmal, who dived to his left to take a low catch.

South Africa were in disarray with three of them gone for just 33 runs, and it seemed Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq decision to bowl had paid off.

But Kallis and AB de Villiers went into damage control mode and the duo took them to safety.

Kallis attacked Sami and picked three boundaries off quick Umar Gul.

Kallis survived a leg before appeal from Sami with umpire Asoka de Silva turning it down. Kallis was on 87 then.

AB de Villiers too survived an appeal from left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman when on 65.

Kallis brought up his hundred with a single off Abdur Rehman.

AB de Villiers and Kallis stitched together 179 runs for the fourth wicket before a peach of a delivery from Tanvir sent back Kallis.

The ball reverse swung and Kallis had no chance as it disturbed his furniture. It was the 10^th century-partnership in 32 innings for the pair.

Then, de Villiers brought up his 11^th Test hundred with a nudge towards midwicket off Umar Gul. It was his first century against Pakistan.

South Africa lost another wicket, that of Ashwell Prince, who was caught by debutant Asad Shafiq off Mohammad Hafeez, but had moved to a position of safety, although a score a 311 for 5 at stumps on day one, had looked a remote possibility considering the situation they were in.

james@khaleejtimes.com