JOHANNESBURG – An astonishing return of 6-8 by Dale Steyn allowed the Proteas to dismiss Pakistan for just 49 and take total control of the Sunfoil Test match at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.
It was the lowest total in Pakistan’s history.
Graeme Smith chose not to enforce the follow-on despite a lead of 204 runs and by the close of play the home team had reached 207-3, a daunting lead of 411.
Steyn was devastating in his first spell of the morning claiming three wickets in five overs at a cost of just eight runs to leave the tourists floundering at 12-3.
Mohammed Hafeez became the first of a record-equalling six catches for AB de Villiers behind the stumps, fellow opener Nasir Jamshed lost a review for lbw and Younis Khan, the lynchpin of the Pakistan batting order, edged his fifth delivery to Smith at first slip.
Jacques Kallis claimed the next two when Azhar Ali could only fend a ferocious bouncer to De Villiers and Misbah-ul-Haq gained the faintest of edges to the ‘keeper. The Pakistan skipper asked for a review after Kallis led a near-solo appeal but TV umpire Steve Davis ruled in favour of the bowler.
Vernon Philander snatched another brace shortly before lunch, courtesy of further catches to De Villiers and Smith again, and the break was taken with the innings in disarray at 40-7.
Steyn resumed the attack immediately and finished the innings with two more catches to De Villiers and the last to Faf du Plessis at fourth slip without conceding a run to complete one of the more memorable analyses in South African Test history.
Smith compiled a valuable 52 from 73 deliveries to mark his 100th Test as captain following an opening stand of 82 with Alviro Petersen which laid the platform the Proteas needed to ensure there was no way back into the Test for their opponents.
Hashim Amla was content to play the supporting role during an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 108 with a resurgent AB de Villiers although both men passed 50 at a scoring rate of four runs to the over.
Amla will resume on 50 with De Villiers on 63 at the start of the third day and, for the third Test in succession, all eyes will be on Smith sometime around lunch to see when the captain will decide to declare.
