On a track that is expected to be full of runs, and against arguably the mightiest batting line-up in the world, it was imperative that Pakistan’s bowlers made early breakthroughs. They did, three times in the morning session, but with the track easing out Hashim Amla added to the mountains of runs he has scored in recent years with an unbeaten half-century. Keeping him company at tea was JP Duminy, who made a brisk 36 in his first Test innings in over a year.
The new ball didn’t hoop around dramatically for the left-arm quicks but the returning Mohammad Irfan troubled the batsmen early on. Allied with a persistent offstump line, he got his typical extra bounce which led to a wicket in the third over itself as Alviro Petersen fell to a juggling catch at short leg.
Graeme Smith has had a long absence from top-flight cricket and it showed in his first international innings back. He was left searching for the ball outside off several times, there were a couple of streaky edged boundaries behind the wicket, after the second of which he nicked one through to the keeper.
It required the DRS for him to be given out, and luckily for Pakistan this was one of the most clear-cut decisions for a Hot Spot-less review system – there was a loud sound as the ball passed bat, and the bat was well away from the body. How well this review system will hold up for more complicated bat-pad chances, which are likely to crop up for the spinners as the match progresses, remains to be seen.
Another man returning from time away from cricket, Jacques Kallis, didn’t look as rusty as Smith, but he too didn’t make too many runs, inside-edging an incutter from Junaid to the keeper for 5. It wasn’t the biggest of crowds that showed up in Abu Dhabi, but they certainly found their voice when South Africa were dithering at 43 for 3.
Few sights are as reassuring for South Africa fans as seeing Amla in the middle. Amla also had his early problems, but then settled in, unfurling a cover drive which was the only intentional boundary of the first hour. He had a close run-out chance but otherwise he was getting ominously comfortable, rounding off the session with another of his eye-catching off drives for four.
With AB de Villiers also looking in good touch, Pakistan’s attack didn’t pose much of a threat after lunch. Amla and de Villiers were cruising in the second session when a dozy moment from de Villiers resulted in him losing his wicket. He looked to defend off the front foot and after an lbw appeal, he held the pose for the umpire. The ball rolled over towards slip, and the keeper Adnan Akmal signalled to Younis Khan to return the ball to the stumps. Adnan took the bails off and after many replays it was determined that de Villiers’ backfoot was just outside the crease.
Either side of that dismissal, South Africa were barely troubled and Pakistan would perhaps be reminded of what happened on the first day the previous time these two sides met in a Test in Abu Dhabi.