South africa took charge of the first Test today after posting a total of 450 against a faltering Pakistan. Pakistan ended the second day at 127/5, as their top order collapsed after openers Kamran Akmal (42) and Mohammad Hafeez (34) had provided a brisk start of 71. They still need 124 to avoid the follow-on.

Captain Shoaib Malik was batting on a patient 9 while Abdul Rehman was not out on 1. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris (2/18) removed both openers within a space of his 14 deliveries with Jacques Kallis holding onto a sharp one-handed reflex catch of Hafeez.Akmal was promoted in the order after regular opener Salman Butt had to spend 11 hours in the hospital, suffering from stomach pain. Akmal hit five fours before he was trapped lbw by Harris.

Younis Khan (6) struggled to negotiate the variable bounce for half an hour and was bowled by pacer Andre Nel off a delivery that kept very low. Kallis also did not have to wait long and bowled Faisal Iqbal cheaply in his second over. Dale Steyn dealt another blow late in the day when Misbah-ul Haq (23) — returning to the test side after four years — edged a wide delivery.

South Africa were indebted to AB de Villiers’ innings of 77 for a healthy first innings total as Pakistan’s rookie spinner Rehman (4/105) ran through the long lower order.

De Villiers scored the bulk of runs after Mark Boucher (1) fell to a debatable decision by English umpire Mark Benson in the second session.

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