Twitter Reactions: Olivier-fifer puts South Africa ahead in Johannesburg

Pakistan lost a couple of crucial wickets after South Africa posted 262. At the close of play on the second day of the third Test at the Wanderers, the visitors find themselves in a precarious position. Albeit their bowlers did an excellent job yet again, the batsmen couldn’t lend them appropriate support. The Proteas, on the contrary, despite encountering a few stutters, ended the day with a substantial lead of 212 runs.

Olivier runs through Pakistan batting

Imam-ul-Haq and nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas were the overnight batsmen and they put on 47 for the third wicket after which Duanne Olivier got rid of the latter. Three balls later, Asad Shafiq perished to the speedster for a three-ball duck. Imam and Babar Azam added 38 more runs before Vernon Philander dismissed Imam, who scored 43 patient runs from 105 deliveries with four boundaries.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed then joined Babar in the middle and the duo cobbled together a stand of 78 runs. The captain trod the attacking route and brought up his fifty in 38 balls. Unfortunately, both perished in a space of four balls. While Sarfraz became Kagiso Rabada’s victim, Babar fell prey to Olivier, who picked up another five-wicket haul. The visitors were bowled out for 185, conceding a lead of 77 runs.

South Africa in a decent position

In the second innings, Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram started briskly with a stand of 24 from 25 balls. Mohammad Amir struck first blood as he nipped out Elgar for five. Markram smacked four boundaries to score 21, but Mohammad Abbas accounted for his wicket. A few overs later, Faheem Ashraf got rid of Theuinis de Bruyn. Two deliveries later, debutant Zubayr Hamza became Ashraf’s second victim.

Temba Bavuma looked solid having scored 23 runs from 42 balls until leg-spinner Shadab Khan got the better of him in the 29th over. Thereafter, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock put their heads down and made sure that the home team finish proceedings without any more hiccup. De Kock was the more aggressive partner as he scored 34 from 35 with Amla on 42. The Proteas scored 135 in 37 overs.

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