South Africa 8-245 (Hashim Amla 118*, Jean-Paul Duminy 57, Zulfiqar Babar 3-89, Mohammad Irfan 2-42) vs. Pakistan

A sterling unbeaten hundred from the run machine of South Africa, Hashim Amla, guided his team to a reasonable position in the opening Test against Pakistan.

The 24-year-old left hand opener, Shan Masood, and 34 year-old left arm spinner, Zulfiqar Babar, made Test debut for the hosts.

The Proteas scored 245 runs after 90 overs for the loss of eight wickets in their first innings.

The first Test of the two match series commenced on Monday, October 14, 2013, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Earlier, Graeme Smith won the toss for the visitors and came in to bat along with Alviro Petersen. The lanky quick bowler, Mohammad Irfan, got rid of both openers for 15 and 3 runs whereas Jacques Kallis was caught behind by Adnan Akmal off Junaid Khan for just five. The tourists were in deep trouble at 3-43 when AB de Villiers joined in with Hashim Amla who was securing his end nicely at 18. The first hit a couple of fours in the coming overs and the score was taken to 3-66 in 26 overs when lunch break was ordered by the field umpires.

Hashim Amla gathered 6 fours until the end of the 34^th over and reached his fifty with another boundary. The first hundred of the innings appeared on board five overs later and AB de Villiers was run out at 104 after scoring 19 runs. Jean-Paul-Duminy walked in next, he took off with 2 fours in the 43^rd over and dispatched the first six of the innings in the 50^th one. The second half of the game belonged to the Proteas since they lost just one wicket and tea break was taken at 4-152 in 55 overs whereas Hashim Amla and Jean-Paul Duminy were at the crease for 71 and 36 respectively.

The duo started picking up the boundaries at regular intervals after having refreshments and Duminy attained his fifth Test half century in the 66^th over. He was dropped at 56 by the wicket keeper, Adnan Akmal, off Saeed Ajmal in the 69^th one but was gone in the next over for 57 off 94 balls with 1 six and 6 fours. Hashim Amla thrashed his 20^th Test ton in the 76^th over and was the lone fighter as Zulfiqar Babar dismissed three middle order batsmen in  no time. South Africa lost their 8^th wicket at 222 in 82.1 overs when Dale Steyn got together with Hashim Amla. The new ball was taken by the Pakistani skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq, in the 87^th over and the pair saw off the day without any further loss. Hashim Amla was still at the crease with a majestic knock of 118 from 250 deliveries with 13 fours. Steyn was at the other end for 13 while the visitors gathered 245 runs with two wickets left in 90 overs.

The debutant Zulfiqar Babar was the most successful bowler with three wickets, Mohammad Irfan held two whereas Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal shared one wicket each.

South Africa would like to add another 50-60 runs to the total which can put them in strong position keeping in view the poor display of batting by the Pakistani batsmen recently.