If Pakistan were under the impression that South Africa would be obliging hosts after day one at the Wanderers, they were quickly disabused of that notion by a Dale Steyn-led wrecking job that saw them dismissed for the their lowest total in Tests. Graeme Smith then chose to bludgeon home South Africa’s advantage with the bat, eschewing the option of the follow-on and adding an unbeaten 43 in his 100th Test as captain to help his team to a 277-run lead at tea.

On a pitch that was offering assistance for the seamers, Smith and Alviro Peterson ground their way past a half-century opening stand, in the process eclipsing the 49 Pakistan had scraped together in the first half of the day. Smith, of course, did not have to face Steyn but he opted to spare Pakistan a repeat of their first-innings trial to avoid the prospect of having to bat in the fourth innings against spin. Pakistan will need something special from more than just Saeed Ajmal if they are to avoid a heavy defeat in Johannesburg. Read more
Courtesy : www.espncricinfo.com

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