Gul sparks South Africa collapse in Dubai Test

DUBAI: Paceman Umar Gul produced an inspired spell of bowling as South Africa collapsed to 365 for nine at lunch on the second day of the first test against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. During the morning session Gul served up a spell of 3-19 off 8.3 overs as the Proteas suffered a middle-order collapse that saw them lose seven wickets for the addition of just 56 runs. Gul maintained an excellent line just outside the off stump while he extracted just enough seam movement to trouble the batsmen as he ended the session with figures of 3-92. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal chipped in with a wicket while left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman claimed two wickets towards the end of the session as the Proteas threw away the advantage that they had built up on the first day. Pakistan's performance in the field was made all the more remarkable by the fact that left-arm swing bowler Wahab Riaz was unable to bowl after picking up a side strain on the opening day. The Proteas, after resuming on 311-3, lost nightwatchman Paul Harris early, caught at second slip off the bowling of Gul for a duck. Gul then produced a superb delivery, which nipped back off the seam to bowl AB de Villiers (5) through the gate, before the 26-year-old bowler trapped Ashwell Prince leg-before for one. South Africa had slipped to 329-6 but if they hoped the end of Gul's spell would lessen the pressure on them they were to be disappointed as Rehman trapped Mark Boucher lbw before Ajmal picked up the important wicket of Jacques Kallis. Kallis, who had added 20 runs to his overnight score of 53, edged a delivery through to keeper Adnan Akmal before Rehman bowled Johan Botha (10) with a turning delivery that clipped the top of the batsman's off stump. Rehman went to the break with figures of 3-101.