5 recent instances when teams were bundled out for very low scores in Tests

Modified Jan 25, 2019 19:21 IST

Kemar Roach - The wrecker-in-chief against England

#3 Pakistan(49) vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 2013

This was the first innings of the first Test match of the series in 2013. South Africa batted first and scored 253 in the first innings. Pakistan bowlers, as always, have restricted South Africa to a reasonably modest score. Now, it was up to the Pakistani batsmen to complement their bowlers.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, Dale Steyn was at his brilliant best on that day. Steyn started off in his second over by removing the ever-tentative Mohammad Hafeez for 6. Steyn had the wickets of Nasir Jamshed and Younis Khan in his third over. With Pakistan reeling on 12 for 3, suddenly the follow-on target of 54 seemed to be too far away.

Steyn could not cause any damage in his next 3 overs and was replaced by Jacques Kallis. Pakistan limbed to 36 for 3 before Kallis struck twice with the wickets of Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq. At the other end, Vernon Philander accounted for Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul in one over. Pakistan was 39 for 7 still 15 short of the follow-on target.

Steyn was re-introduced into the attack immediately after lunch and with the second ball of his new spell, he forced a wicket when Saeed Ajmal edged one behind. In his next over, Steyn got rid of Sarfraz Ahmed for 2. Off the first ball of his ninth over, Steyn finished off the Pakistan innings for 49, well below the follow-on margin. Steyn returned with remarkable figures of 8.1-6-8-6. Pakistan could bat through 29.1 overs only.

In the Pakistan innings, only Azhar Ali (13) and Misbah-ul-Haq (12) could reach double figures. The rest of the 9 Pakistan batsmen combined to contribute a mere 24 runs. There were as many as 3 ducks in the innings.

The South African captain Graeme Smith chose not to enforce the follow-on and in the end, South Africa won that Test match by 211 runs. Steyn took 5 wickets in the second innings and had match figures of 11 for 60. Truly exceptional bowling performance.