South Africa take charge of 3rd test against Pakistan after fluctuating 1st day at Centurion

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CENTURION, South Africa — An unbroken stand of 106 between AB de Villiers and Vernon Philander allowed South Africa to take the honours Friday after a fluctuating first day in the third test against Pakistan.

De Villiers was 98 and Philander on 45 when South Africa went to stumps on 334-6, while the home side was also indebted to Hashim Amla’s 92 in recovering from precarious positions of 107-3 and 196-5.

Pakistan was left to lament an inconsistent day in the field at Centurion in which its bowlers produced some sublime deliveries but also failed to maintain pressure for prolonged spells.

South Africa was able to score at about four runs per over throughout the day, allowing the hosts to quickly recover from testing positions.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith’s decision after winning the toss was not a simple one, and he might have regretted opting to bat after Pakistan removed him and opening partner Alviro Petersen with just 38 runs scored.

Rahat Ali made the initial breakthrough for Pakistan with Petersen trapped lbw, before debutant seamer Ehsan Adil took his first test wicket when he had Smith caught at second slip.

Amla put on 69 for the third wicket with Faf du Plessis in South Africa’s first recovery of the day, but Du Plessis departed for 29 shortly after lunch when he edged a delivery from Adil.

Amla and De Villiers resurrected the innings in a brisk stand, but the balance swung again when Ali struck twice in consecutive overs. First he induced a tame edge from Amla, and then he trapped Dean Elgar lbw in his following over.

With Jacques Kallis missing the match due to a calf strain, South Africa was a batsman lighter than normal, but Robin Peterson and Philander weighed in with handy runs.

Peterson scored 28 in a 52-run partnership with De Villiers before he was run out by a direct hit from Mohammad Irfan, and Philander finished the day just short of a second test 50.

Kallis’ injury, which was picked up while bowling in the nets on Thursday, allowed fast bowler Kyle Abbott to make his test debut for South Africa, while Pakistan made three changes.

One was enforced as Umar Gul had a sore throat and fever, giving Ali a second test, while opening batsman Nasir Jamshed was replaced by Imran Farhat and seamer Tanvir Ahmed by Adil.

12:09ET 22-02-13