SK Flashback: Top 5 bowling spells of Paul Adams

#2 7/128 vs Pakistan at Lahore, 2003

Paul Adams’ career-best figures in Tests was in a losing cause

It was the first Test of South Africa’s Tour of Pakistan and South Africa elected to bat first after winning the toss. Half-centuries from Mark Boucher and Gary Kirsten took the Proteas to 320. However, Pakistan replied well by taking an 80-run lead in their first innings thanks to a century from Taufeeq Umar and a well-made 99 from debutant Asim Kamal.

However, Pakistan might have taken a much bigger lead had it not been for Paul Adams’ brilliant bowling. Adams broke the 109-run opening partnership between Umar and Imran Farhat by clean bowling out the latter before dismissing Umar himself. He also took the wickets of Shoaib Malik and Moin Khan who were looking dangerous out there and scalped all the tail-enders to end the first innings with career-best figures of 7/128.

However, Adams’ spell would go in vain as some brilliant bowling by Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Akhtar dismissed South Africa for 241, thus giving Pakistan only 162 to chase down in the second innings which they did with eight wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the series.