da doce： Graeme Smith’s 12th Test century was an almighty struggle, but it’s one he’s likely to remember with special fondness
da realsbet： Osman Samiuddin in Lahore11-Oct-2007
Graeme Smith fought off the rough and a couple of Pakistan spinners to get his first Test century since May 2005 © AFP
Not many people are likely to remember Graeme Smith’s 12th Test hundred.It was an almighty struggle, one he generally had to “grind for”. He wasunbeaten on 75 overnight, but reached his hundred only on the stroke oflunch. That took him 90 balls, with meager help from one boundary.Not that any batsman forgets a century, but Smith is likely to rememberthis one with a special fondness. It was his first for 17 Tests, a stretchof barrenness running back to May 2005. “It’s been a while since I got ahundred,” he said. “In all forms of the game I’ve gotten 80s and 90s so it was reallynice to push through the 40s and 90s and getting through to that hundred.”It was also his first in the subcontinent, little, grim battles won andlost against spin, but the ultimate war was fully won. Both Danish Kaneriaand Abdur Rehman were tight in the morning; Smith was beaten in particularby Kaneria several times. “For me it was really special. A left-hander,second innings, I had to grind for that especially over those first twohours. Danish and Rehman bowled really well, especially to me as there wasa lot happening out of the rough.”It wins pride of place with his double hundreds in England and amatchwinning hundred against New Zealand. “Having grown up in South Africawhere spin is a lot easier to play, you spend your life thinking aboutfacing fast bowling. So for me to go and score a hundred on a turningwicket is a big leap as a batter.”Though Smith and South Africa picked up the scoring slightly after lunch,they never pushed with the same thrust they might have been expected to.Only 57 runs came in the first session, but Smith acknowledged thatPakistan had a hand in that as well. “They bowled well. Danish and Rehmanmade life very difficult and we would’ve loved to have scored at leastfour runs an over.”But these are mere quibbles, irrelevant to the story of South Africa’sdominance of this Test and series. Make no mistake, South Africa have beenthe happier side at the end of most days of cricket in this series andtoday bucked no trend. “We’re in a very, very strong position,” Smith said. “For a teamto score four runs an over on the last day, when it’s turning, reverseswinging and at any stage of the game we can tighten up the game andreally close it down, the pressure’s right on Pakistan.”Still, an intriguing day’s play awaits and not just because it isInzamam-ul-Haq’s last in international cricket. Younis Khan was in amood not far removed from the one that brought the Karachi hundred andthough a win is improbable, a draw, with nine wickets in hand is moreachievable.”Obviously another wicket towards the close would’ve made us happier,”said Smith. “We were a little bit flat in the afternoon, but we make sureour heads are in the right place tomorrow and if we come out here and meanbusiness, we can go a long way to winning this Test series 2-0.”
