Amla rock-solid for Proteas as pitch debate persists

When Aiden Markram remarked that Proteas batsmen – current and future – would need to make peace with the fact that local Test pitches are going to remain challenging, he wasn’t joking.

This is indeed South Africa’s masterplan for shooting up the world Test rankings again – prepare surfaces that suit their strengths.

And that means bowler-friendly surfaces.

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The Proteas reached 135/5 at the close of play on day two of the third Test against Pakistan on Saturday.

It’s undoubtedly a handy lead of 212 and certainly suggests that batting conditions haven’t been overly easy.

Yet sometimes, looks really can be deceiving.

The average run rate of this Test to date is almost 3.5 runs per over.

Even in this modern age of attention-deficit-disorder T20 cricket, that’s a pretty brisk rate.

When Pakistan were dismissed for 185 by a potent attack inspired by Duanne Olivier’s 5/51, it wasn’t necessarily great bowling that was the trigger.

South Africa weren’t great at times, especially after lunch as Babar Azam (49) and Sarfraz Ahmed (50 off 40 balls) took just 10.1 overs to add 78 for the sixth wicket.

In fact, it was only because of meltdowns by both batters that the home side were allowed a gap and a potentially crucial lead.

Pakistan’s bowlers certainly didn’t wilt.

They were disciplined and accurate for most part, but most of their scalps were down to questionable judgement and the pressure that discipline created.

Aiden Markram (25) and Theunis de Bruyn (7) both played away from their bodies to good but not unplayable deliveries.

Shadab Khan snaffled Temba Bavuma (23) with a ripping leg break that the diminutive batter still probably could’ve left.

Only debutant Zubayr Hamza could count himself a victim of the pitch as Faheem Ashraf’s (2/19) kept low and left him trapped in front.

Hashim Amla (42 not out) was slow, but generally untroubled and Quinton de Kock’s attacking run-a-ball 35 again suggested things really aren’t as bad as many seem to think.

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