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Proteas in trouble in Dubai

Dubai - Pakistan were off to a confident start after wrapping up South Africa's first innings on 380 on the second day of the first Test at Dubai Stadium on Saturday.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez (48) and Taufiq Umer (36) were unbeaten at the tea break to take Pakistan to 88 without loss as they negotiated the South African bowling well to turn the tables on their rivals.

Hafeez smashed seven boundaries during his confident 46-ball knock, while Taufiq, playing his first Test in four years, crossed the boundaries on three occasions.

Earlier, paceman Umar Gul (3-100) led Pakistan's fightback and was ably supported by left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman (3-101) and Saeed Ajmal (2-95) as Pakistan dismissed seven South African batsmen for 69 runs.

Gul claimed three scalps in 20 balls to help Pakistan put the brakes on the South African innings in which the middle order crumbled under pressure with just Jacques Kallis putting up any resistance during his 73-run knock.

Pakistan, who had to pull out experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf minutes before the toss on Friday, also lost paceman Wahab Riaz because of a side strain which will prevent him from bowling in the innings.

Resuming at 311-3, South Africa lost Paul Harris for a duck in the sixth over of the day when the nightwatchman edged Gul to the slips where Younis Khan held onto a difficult catch.

Gul then had AB de Villiers (five) bowled with a sharp incoming delivery and in his next over trapped Ashwell Prince leg-before for one, leaving South Africa on 329-6.

Rehman trapped Mark Boucher (nine) leg-before and bowled Johan Botha (10) to further derail the South African innings. Ajmal wrapped up the innings by dismissing Morne Morkel (10).
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