Malik finds his slot
Shoaib Malik and Paul Harris were the stars of the day
03-Oct-2007
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Pakistan finally woke up but it's still likely to be too late. Spirited
they were through the third day, but it felt a defeated spirit, at best a
statement perhaps ahead of the second Test that South Africa will not have
it so easy again.
For much of this match Pakistan have looked jammed in a previous era, not
a team moving into another. Twice as many spinners as fast bowlers seemed
a new way of doing things, though possibly not the best. But even Mohammad
Asif and Umar Gul have rarely looked so defeated by a surface. The
spinners were supposed to have feasted like kings on this pitch, but have
instead respected the holy month, until today.
In the bigger picture, Shoaib Malik scrapping away this afternoon was no
bad thing. The uncertainty over his promotion to the captaincy revolved
more around the timing, not so much the potential. In 18 Tests, he hadn't
fully nailed down his place in the middle-order: two of his six fifties
and his only Test century have come while opening, so where, if at all, is
he best utilised?
There's no if now, for he is leader and on the evidence of today, the
middle-order isn't a bad area for him to be in. For one, if conditions are
right, there isn't a kind of innings he seems incapable of playing. His
only Test century was an eight-hour match-saving one, and unlike his top
order, he made the switch from 20 overs to five days without breaking
sweat. Solid defence mixed calmly and eagerly with the odd biff, broken up
occasionally by a thoroughly correct drive or clip.
The only blemish came in his demise, an ugly, dancing swipe about as
necessary as a hole in the head. The situation at the time means that will
attract unhealthy attention; a century in his first Test as captain
would've been some statement, but a calming 73 isn't a bad way to start.
For all Pakistan's spunk today, however, South Africa have bossed this
from the start. Makhaya Ntini apart, they have felt more tangibly up for
it everywhere, in the field, with the bat, with the ball. Andre Nel has
been the best fast bowler on view, charging in as a bull might to red
cloth, twiddling his action, his pace and lengths but never his
commitment. It is the way Nel is and so doesn't come as a surprise. Paul
Harris, on the other hand, looked the most threatening spinner, which did
come as a surprise.
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He sparked Pakistan's slide yesterday and completed it today, in the
process completing his first five-wicket haul. If you thought a South
African spinner taking a five-for was rare - the last time that happened
was three years ago - when was the last time a South African spinner took
the new ball, as Harris did today?
Mark Boucher, beneficiary with two rare stumpings, reckons Harris is one
the best spinners he has kept to. "He's tall, very tall and he gets good
bounce. He puts it in consistent areas and is good at building up the
pressure."
There is likely more to come from the man who cites top Australian surfer
Kelly Slater as his idol ("I can't really think of any left-arm spinners
as role models") and didn't become the fast bowler his height deemed him
fit for because "there are no fast-twitch muscles in this body so I
switched to spin."
He's not exactly an overnight star, for he has been around on the domestic
circuit for almost a decade. The season before last, he was the highest
wicket-taker domestically. His lack of multi-dimensionality and surfer
ways doesn't really fit in with the South African way and he was almost
lost to Kolpak.
But he's hung around, and with some help from Richard Pybus, it's paying
off. "Richard really turned my career around. Mentally especially he was
very good for me. I've been lucky to play on some good pitches so far and
any spinner would love to bowl on this pitch."
Though South Africa stuttered late against some improved spin bowling, the
lead is already imposing at 235. Boucher reckons anywhere between 320 and
350 is the target. "Our 159-run lead [first innings] is golden at the moment," he said,
"because batting is going to be tough from now on. Another hundred runs or
so and a 320 lead will be very competitive."
With Harris already itching to bowl on the fourth and fifth days, it is
likely to be more than just that.
Osman Samiuddin is the Pakistan editor of Cricinfo