LAHORE, Pakistan, 20 October 2003 — South Africa seized back the initiative from Pakistan, racing to 99 for one in their second innings at close, after Paul Adams had taken seven wickets, on the third day of the first Test yesterday.
South Africa wrist spinner Adams took Test-best figures of seven for 128 as Pakistan were bowled out for 401 shortly before tea.
Herschelle Gibbs then stroked his way to a powerful 56 from 105 balls with seven fours and one six making Pakistan pay heavily for a dropped chance when he was on 13. Gibbs also had two other close shaves when first a ball from Sami passed over the stumps, kissing the bails without dislodging them and once when an inside edge went close to diving wicketkeeper Moin Khan.
Despite his nervous start, Gibbs took control with some flowing strokes including a pull for six off Shoaib Akhtar who got the only breakthrough of the innings when he had captain Graeme Smith caught by Taufiq Umar at wide first slip.
Gibbs, with Boeta Dippenaar on 25 not out, put on 56 runs for the second wicket as the Pakistan spinners went wicketless.
Earlier debutant Asim Kamal became only the third man in cricket history to fall for 99 on his debut. The 27-year-old left-hander was bowled by Andre Nel to become the first player from Pakistan to be dismissed for 99 in his first Test. Shortly after, the 26-year-old Adams triggered a collapse, bowling 45 overs as he took five of the last six wickets to fall, with tailenders Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria managing just one run between them. Pakistan, replying to South Africa’s first innings of 320, were restricted to a lead of 81.
Asim Kamal said he was thinking more about his sick father than his hundred. “My father is a very sick man. He undergoes regular dialysis and has other complications. I kept on thinking about him and praying to God to make him well again when I approached my hundred,” Kamal told Reuters.
