South Africa finally ended the agony for Pakistan, declaring two overs after tea on the second day on a mammoth 584 for nine. That allowed AB de Villiers to go past Graeme Smith as holder of the top individual score for South Africa in Tests. A six and a four off Mohammad Hafeez in the the first over after tea had brought up a whirlwind century partnership for the last wicket with Morne Morkel, made at nearly eight runs an over.
Despite bowling well in patches, Pakistan sagged as the day wore on and Tanvir Ahmed's six-for - the second-best figures by a Pakistani on debut - was a not-so-bright bright spot.
The story and direction of the Test so far was set by de Villiers. His was a muted, inevitable progression, a continuation of the stealthy way in which he went along on the first day. At no point did he choose to cut loose and it was really a matter of choice, for at no point in the day did he look insecure.
A verbal dance with a luckless Umar Gul on the virtues or otherwise of walking - Pakistan thought de Villiers was out twice yesterday - was his highlight of the morning's first hour. He did break out 80 minutes in to the morning in one over against a tiring Tanvir; a delicious drive sandwiched by a pull and punch through midwicket, the last brought up 150.
The damage to Pakistan didn't seem apparent at first: 74 runs and two wickets in the morning, in fact, was even-stevens. But as the day wore on, de Villiers killed Pakistan gradually, orchestrating a succession of useful lower-order stands. Seventy-three were put on with Mark Boucher, 42 with Johan Botha and, most irritatingly for Pakistan, 59 with Dale Steyn and an unbeaten 91 with Morne Morkel. Even Paul Harris was handy, helping add 35.
Through them all were regular reminders of the simplicity of his strokeplay, such as an easy glide through gully off Mohammad Sami. To bring up the double as tea approached, he first pulled Gul in front of square before guiding him through gully for another four. A flurry of boundaries as matters came to tea amply demonstrated his complete and total superiority.
Steyn was probably the most fun post-lunch union. There were flick-pulls, drives hit as hard as concrete as well as a magnificent dance-down six over long-on. By the end, as Gul foolishly peppered him with bouncers - pumping him up no doubt for later in the day - it had become too predictable. Another pull just before the second drinks break of the day meant he had helped de Villiers add 50. Morkel struck out at the end but the fight was long gone then.
Pakistan had actually begun well, with Gul and Tanvir particularly tight. The latter struck first, a sharp, late inswinger surprising Boucher. The Flintoff-esque celebration was impressive and understandable for a five-for on debut.
Even Sami bowled an outstanding spell pre-lunch, full of whizzing outswingers. One such caught the edge but two truths of Sami's career remained unchallenged: one, he has no luck and two, catching is not an Akmal family strength.
But as the day wore on and their luck didn't look like changing, Pakistan were mentally and physically gone. de Villiers drained them thoroughly and every boundary Harris and Morkel hit was a further, debilitating prick on an already numb body. That the half-hour tea extension was actually more advantageous to South Africa than to Pakistan said it all.
source by :espncricinfo
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