Seven-star Abbott destroys Pak

Debutant pacer Kyle Abbott wrea­ked havoc with a seven-wicket haul as Pakistan were forced to follow on on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Centurion on Saturday.

Pakistan, who were bowled out for 156 in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 409, were 14 for the loss of Mohammad Haffez at stumps.

All four of the home seamers were impressive as they exploited the variable bounce and cracks in the pitch. The difficult batting conditions make the home side’s first innings total seem all the more impressive.

Abbott ended with figures of 7-29, while Vernon Philander took 2-30 and Dale Steyn claimed 1-25.
Younis Khan top-scored with 33 and added 37 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfras Ahmed (17). But once Sarfras fell to Abbott, Pakistan lost wickets in a heap. Younis was the last man dismissed.

Earlier, a century from AB de Villiers helped South Africa past the 400-mark before they were all out just before lunch.

De Villiers (121) reached his century off 186 balls, needing just two runs on the second morning to complete the milestone.

The visitors took the remaining four South African wickets for the addition of 75 runs on the second morning with Rahat Ali recording career best figures of six for 127 in his second Test.

South Africa lead the three-match series 2-0 having won the first Test in Johannesburg by 211 runs, before clinching the series with a four-wicket victory in Cape Town.

SOUTH AFRICA (I Innings, O/n: 334/6):
Smith c Younis b Adil    5
Petersen lbw Rahat    10
Amla c Sarfraz b Rahat    92
Du Plessis c Sarfraz b Adil    29
De Villiers c Shafiq b Rahat    121
Elgar lbw Rahat    7
Peterson (run out)    28
Philander c Hafeez b Younis    74
Abbot b Rahat    13
Kleinveldt c Ajmal b Rahat    0
Steyn (not out)    5
Extras (B-1, LB-6, W-6, NB-12)    25
Total (all out, 103.2 overs)    409
Fall of wkts: 1-13, 2-38, 3-107, 4-186, 5-196, 6-248, 7-377, 8-394, 9-402.
Bowling: Irfan 21.5-3-80-0, Rahat 27.2-1-127-6, Adil 12.1-2-54-2, Ajmal 29-6-76-0, Younis 6-0-28-1, Hafeez 5-0-24-0, Azhar 2-0-13-0.
PAKISTAN (I Innings)
Hafeez c Elgar b Abbott    18
Farhat lbw Philander    30
Azhar b Philander    6
Younis lbw Abbott    33
Misbah c Petersen b Abbott.............10               
Shafiq lbw Steyn    6
Sarfraz c Smith b Abbott    17
Ajmal c Smith b Abbott    0
Adil c Du Plessis b Abbott    9
Irfan c Elgar b Abbott    0
Rahat (not out)    0
Extras (LB-17, W-8, NB-2)    27
Total (all out, 46.4 overs)    156
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-56, 3-56, 4-75, 5-95, 6-132, 7-132, 8-149, 9-149.
Bowling: Steyn 12-5-25-1, Philander 10-2-30-2, Kleinveldt 12-1-49-0, Abbott 11.4-4-29-7, Peterson 1-0-6-0.
PAKISTAN (II Innings, f/o):
Hafeez b Steyn    0
Azhar (batting)    5
Younis (batting)    8
Extras (LB-1)    1
Total (for 1 wkt, 9 overs)     14
Fall of wkt: 1-0.
Bowling: Steyn 4-1-9-1, Philander 3-2-2-0, Abbott 1-1-0-0, Kleinveldt 1-0-2-0.