Long way for South Africa

South Africa found themselves in trouble at the end of day two when they limped to a tentative 115 for 3 at Port Elizabeth here today. At the wicket were all rounder Kallis not out on 50 along with Ashwell Prince not out on 21. The two batsmen batted with a lot of purpose to move the score from 61 for 3 after Mohammed Asif had made two early breakthroughs.

Makhaya Ntini celebrates his 300th wicket after dismissing Pakistan's batsman Mohammad Sami, on the second day of the second test match in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, yesterday.AP

Pakistan added 130 with their remaining four wickets, skipper Inzamam playing a masterful knock and shielding the tail.

Makhaya Ntini struck early, recording his 300th Test victim, but Inzamam moved to 92, adding 74 from 122 balls with last man Mohammad Sami (7). The skipper then held a superb diving catch to dismiss Graeme Smith for 10.

The tourists, seeking to level the series, added useful runs when tailender Sami hit two fours in an over, much to the annoyance of Andre Nel.

But to the great delight of Ntini, who revealed an inscribed t-shirt, he nipped none back and caught the inside edge to secure his landmark.

Short balls accounted for Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria but Inzamam-ul-Haq survived to make his 46th Test fifty.

Pakistan were already 11 runs ahead of South Africa's mediocre 124 going into the second day at Port Elizabeth, and looked set for a commanding advantage when Inzamam and Sami took their partnership to 31 from 49 balls.

But Ntini's pace and the agility of keeper Mark Boucher signalled the landmark wicket, with the paceman becoming the 21st man to reach the 300 wicket stage, and the third South African.

The Pakistan tailenders were clearly uncomfortable against the short ball and this was not lost on the experienced South African bowlers, with venerable all-rounders Jaques Kallis and Shaun Pollock soon brought into the attack.

Shoaib, after fending off some brutal deliveries awkwardly, finally succumbed to Kallis, while Danish Kaneria could only glove Pollock tamely to the gully.

Kallis even employed the short ball to the kingpin himself, Inzamam, and might have dismissed the captain when he was on 35 and the score 195-9. -BBC