AB de Villiers

After finishing Day 1 at a strong 311/5, A.B. de Villiers piled on the misery on the hapless Pakistan bowling attack as South Africa went onto make 584/9 before declaring with De Villiers scoring 278 of those runs, a South African record for the highest individual score in Tests.

South Africa were in dire straits after being reduced to 6/2 and then 33/3 in the first hour of the Test, Tanvir Ahmed the debutant picking up the 3 wickets. But the mainstay of South Africa’s batting lineup, Jacques Kallis, showed why he is one among the greatest batsmen of all time as he put on 179 for the 4^th wicket, bringing up his 37^th ton in the process.

It was the A.B. De Villiers show thereafter! After putting on 73 with Boucher, he put on stands of 42, 59 and 35 for the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th wicket. He added salt to the Pakistan wounds putting on an unbeaten 107 of 82 balls for the last wicket with Morne Morkel. Morkel made 35 while De Villiers hit 23 fours and 6 sixes as he brought up his second double hundred. Once A.B. went past his captain’s record score of 277, Smith promptly declared and saved Pakistan from more humiliation. The only bright point for Pakistan was the emergence of another fast bowler – Tanvir Ahmed who picked up 6 wickets on debut.

Pakistan suffered the most disastrous of starts as Mohammed Hafeez was trapped plumb in front by Steyn of the third ball of the innings. However Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali ensured there were no more hiccups as they played until stumps collecting 57 runs on a flat surface that offered no assistance whatsoever to the bowlers.

With a further three days to go in the Test, Pakistan will have to play out of their skins to save the Test, which will be their primary aim.

Tags: A B De Villiers, AB de Villiers, Cricket, Morne Morkel, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanvir Ahmed, Test Cricket