Plays of the day from the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Dubai

Firdose Moonda in Dubai23-Oct-2013Hasty reviews of the day
South Africa did it when they asked for a review for a catch against Azhar Ali, correctly given not out because it had come off his arm to be looked at by the third umpire and Pakistan returned the favour by dispensing off both their reviews before five overs had been bowled. Mohammad Irfan thought he had Graeme Smith out lbw in the third over but the on-field call went against him. On review, it was just clipping leg stump and the decision remained not out. Then, Pakistan reviewed again, only two overs later, when Irfan was convinced Alviro Petersen had nicked a ball that rose on him. Although the ball was close to bat and glove, there was neither sound nor deviation and without hotspot, Pakistan’s hasty use of technology appeared a waste in hindsight.Surprisingly modest celebration of the day
Imran Tahir and boisterous celebrations are known to go together but it seemed something had changed when he did not bring one out for this first wicket. After starting off bowling too full, he looked unthreatening until he bowled Shan Masood with a ball that turned into him from around the wicket, took the inside edge and hit the stumps after a few bounces. Masood seemed surprised that his watchful start had been undone in such a modest fashion and so did Tahir. Mere high-fives marked his first scalp on his comeback.More exuberant celebration of the day
Four overs later there were glimpses of the Tahir of old. His googly had Misbah-ul-Haq playing down the wrong line and trapped low down on his front pad. The Pakistan captain, in nothing more than hope, asked for a review but while he did that, Tahir had made his way to short fine leg, with his team-mates in toe. It wasn’t the full-blooded war cry he has made his own but some of the childlike glee was starting to re-emerge.The Tahir we know moment of the day
And three balls later, the familiar Tahir was out in full force. Adnan Akmal, a member of the family Tahir was close to when he was in Pakistan, was beaten by a quicker ball which clipped leg stump. As lunch was declared, Tahir took off past square leg, arms spread and fists pumping. The rest of the South Africa squad looked on, some tried to keep up but most waited for him to stop. When he did, he emphatically grabbed his protea badge, blew kisses to his wife Sumayya and leapt up to slap Morne Morkel’s hand. Joy knew no boundaries then.Runs of the day
There weren’t too many to speak of in the Pakistan innings and South Africa also found the going slow but will remember the boundary Smith scored at the start of the 37th over. Saeed Ajmal, who was handled with relative ease, bowled a half-volley, Smith stepped out to drive and pushed it down the ground for a well-timed four. The boundary had double relevance. It gave the South African captain a half-century, putting to rest questions about his form given the amount of time he has had out of the game, and put South Africa in the lead.