Rahat Ali’s 3 wickets help Pakistan reduce South Africa to 201-5 at tea on day 1 of 3rd test

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CENTURION, South Africa — Rahat Ali’s three-wicket haul 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 reached tea on an unbeaten 40 with Robin Peterson alongside him on 2 not out. But the session belonged to Pakistan, which also took the wicket of Faf du Plessis shortly after lunch when he edged a delivery from debutant seamer Ehsan Adil through to the wicketkeeper.

Ali had figures of 3-57 from 13 overs at the end of the second session, while Adil took 2-39 from eight overs.

South Africa reached lunch on 104-2 thanks to a partnership between Amla and Du Plessis, who came together with the score on 38-2.

Two early wickets had given Pakistan the upper hand after South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, but Amla and Du Plessis were able to swing the balance due to numerous loose deliveries from the seamers.

Ali made the initial breakthrough for Pakistan in the morning session when he trapped Alviro Petersen lbw for 5, before Adil took his first test wicket when he had Graeme Smith caught at second slip by Younis Khan for 10.

Illness and injury forced both sides to make unexpected changes. South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis was ruled out after straining a calf muscle when bowling in the nets on the eve of the match, and Pakistan lost seamer Umar Gul due to a fever and sore throat.

Kallis was replaced by debutant fast bowler Kyle Abbott, with Proteas team manager Dr. Mohammad Moosajee revealing the allrounder would need “two to three weeks” to regain full fitness.

The Proteas already knew they were going to be without Morne Morkel because of a hamstring injury, allowing fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt to play his fourth test.

With Tanvir Ahmed left out after an underwhelming performance in the second test, Adil came in to play his first international while Ali replaced Gul. Pakistan also promoted Imran Farhat for dropped opening batsman Nasir Jamshed.

09:11ET 22-02-13