Proteas under pressure in first Test after late collapse

The Proteas watched a lengthy sedate period in which they’d made significant progress rapidly unravel to hand Pakistan the advantage at the end of an intriguing second day of the first Test in Lahore.

Having coasted to 174/2 at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, with Ryan Rickelton playing confidently and Tony de Zorzi showing good judgement after a fortuitous start, the tourists were rocked by a devastating collapse that leaves them trailing Pakistan by 162 runs with only four first innings wickets still in hand.

South Africa ended Monday’s play on 216/6, with De Zorzi, who had survived thanks to three TV reviews, on 81 not out, along with Senuran Muthusamy on 6.

Muthusamy had helped create a late order collapse in the first session, as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 16 runs in nine overs, to be bowled out for 378. Muthusamy, finished with 6/117, earning the rewards after a much improved performance with the ball from all the South African bowlers.

Pakistan were certainly hoping for more when resuming on 313/5, with Muhammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha well set, but South Africa’s control of length especially, was much better than it was on the first day, with Kagiso Rabada unlucky not pick up a wicket in a good four-over burst to start the day.

But with the Pakistani duo looking to score with the same fluency they showed on the first evening, when they rested control away from South Africa after losing three wickets with the score on 199, Muthusamy made a critical breakthrough, getting Rizwan beautifully caught behind by Kyle Verreynne for 75, to end a 163-run partnership.

As was the case on the first day, Muthusamy found himself on a hat-trick again, after bowling Noman Ali, and then having Sajid Khan caught at slip by Aiden Markram first ball. He missed the landmark, but picked up the last two wickets helping to achieve a target the Proteas had set for themselves at the end of first day to bowl the hosts out for under 400.

Muthusamy’s pace was good, but it was the length that was the most impressive part of his performance on Monday, as he was able to bring the Pakistani batters forward and then challenge the outside edge.

The Proteas started their first innings solidly, with Markram losing his wicket to an excellent bit of left-arm spin bowling by Noman, while Wiaan Mulder was shaping to slog sweep Noman but at the last second decided to drive through the covers and got a thick edge to Rizwan.

Rickelton, who used to battle against spin, illustrated how much he’s matured as a batter, using his feet well and driving the ball superbly down the ground.

De Zorzi, who edged the Pakistan quicks through the slip region three times early in his innings, had a running battle with Sajid Khan. De Zorzi was given out lbw by umpire Chris Brown, but the ball was shown to have hit outside the line of off-stump, after the South African batter - persuaded by Rickelton — asked for a review.

Another two challenges by Sajid were made, for lbw, both times Brown said no, with TV technology supporting the New Zealand official.

In between, Rickelton made 71, sharing a 94-run partnership with De Zorzi, that had the Pakistanis worried. But Salman, who was last man out in Pakistan’s innings for 93, made a vital breakthrough when he found Rickelton’s outside edge, with Babar Azam taking a fine low catch at slip.

That started the collapse. Tristan Stubbs (8), Dewald Brevis (0) and Verreynne all showed poor judgment against the spinners, and it needed a composed Muthusamy to see off the last half an hour in conjunction with De Zorzi.

The last hour on each of the first two days have belonged to Pakistan, and any kind of lead on a deteriorating pitch is going to prove extremely valuable.