UPDATE: Pakistan fight back after Olivier takes six

Pakistan fought back after being bowled out for 181 as bowlers dominated on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park today.

Duanne Olivier took six for 37 as the hosts subjected Pakistan to an onslaught of aggressive, short-pitched bowling.

South Africa struggled in reply, reaching 127 for five at the close, with left-armers Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi both taking two wickets.

Teenager Afridi struck with successive deliveries, dismissing Dean Elgar and captain Faf du Plessis as South Africa lost three wickets without scoring a run to sink to 43 for four.

Theunis de Bruyn (29) and Temba Bavuma (38 not out) seemed to be regaining the ascendancy for South Africa as they added 69 for the fifth wicket but De Bruyn was caught behind off Amir late in the day to leave the match evenly poised.

Olivier, effectively South Africa’s fifth-choice fast bowler, gained his sixth Test cap following injuries to Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi. He was consistently hostile, especially in a seven-over spell after lunch when he ripped through Pakistan’s middle order, taking three for 17.

“The pitch is a bit bouncy and it’s going around nicely, and against teams from the sub-continent, you want to use the short ball a bit, plus it’s one of my strengths so I backed myself to succeed with being aggressive, using more short-pitched balls, especially against the tail. It’s just the extra bounce and the intimidation factor,” Olivier said.

Olivier stole the limelight for South Africa on a day when Dale Steyn became South Africa’s leading all-time wicket-taker.

Steyn took the second wicket of the match, having Fakhar Zaman caught at second slip, to claim the South African record with 422 Test scalps but had no further success. He was punished for 40 runs in four overs in his third spell of the day as Babar Azam went on the attack while batting with the tail. Azam hit 10 of his 15 fours off Steyn, who finished with one for 66.

Olivier said he has learnt to pay attention to what the maestro is doing while he is bowling.

“It’s a massive achievement by Dale and I’m very happy for him. I really enjoy bowling with him because you learn a lot just watching him in the field, and he and Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander just bring that calmness on the field. They help you just to express yourself and enjoy what you’re doing,” Olivier said.

Azam made a defiant 71 off 79 balls on a pitch already showing signs of uneven bounce. Hasan Ali (21) supported Azam in a ninth wicket stand of 67, easily the best of the innings.

Olivier’s first victim was Shan Masood, who was playing in place of Haris Sohail, who suffered a knee injury during the pre-match warm-up. Masood looked competent as he and Azhar Ali put on 37 for the third wicket before a lifting delivery deflected off his thigh pad onto the stumps. Olivier followed up by trapping Asad Shafiq leg before wicket before he took the wickets of Azhar Ali, captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir after the break.

South Africa lost Aiden Markram early, leg before to Hasan Ali, but Elgar and Hashim saw off some tight bowling by Hasan and Mohammad Amir. The advantage seemed to be shifting when Elgar hit three boundaries off successive balls from Hasan.

Amir returned to the attack after a short break and had Amla caught at gully for eight, the latest in a string of low scores by the veteran batsman.

Tall left-armer Afridi, 18, playing in his second Test, followed up in the next over when Elgar was caught at first slip, trying to withdraw his bat, and Du Plessis was greeted by a ball which reared off a good length and he was caught at gully. The South African captain looked suspiciously at the pitch before departing.

“So far things have gone very good and we came back very well, with good bowling so far. The pitch gives very good support to the fast bowlers and I was very proud to get the captain out first ball, we had a plan against Faf and it was a successful plan. The extra bounce made it difficult for the batsman, but batting first has been very good for us thanks to the way Babar Azam played and Hasan Ali’s support,” Afridi said.

Pakistan made it to their respectable total of 181 thanks to Babar’s crucial, counter-attacking 71 off 79 balls, in a ninth-wicket stand of 67 in less than 10 overs he shared with Hasan (21*).

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.