South Africa's draw perfect warm-up for Pakistan Test

SHARJAH: South Africa geared up for the first Test against Pakistan after gaining useful batting and bowling practice in their drawn three-day match here on Thursday.

They managed 109-3 in their second innings with an overall lead of 152 against Pakistan 'A' on the final day at the Sharjah Stadium.

South Africa did not send their regular openers and instead promoted Jean-Paul Duminy and Faf de Plessis to get some useful practice on the new ball.

Duminy, who hit 49 in the first innings, fell caught behind off paceman Ehsan Adil after scoring 23 but de Plessis went on to score 42 before he retired to give tail-enders some batting practice.

South Africa face Pakistan in the first of two Test starting in Abu Dhabi from Monday.

The second Test will be played in Dubai from October 23 after which both the teams will play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals.

Earlier Pakistan's Test hopeful Asad Shafiq fell for 42 and Pakistan 'A' captain Umar Amin managed just 12.

Another aspirant for a Test place Sohaib Maqsood made 34 and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan hit 31.

Pakistan 'A' declared their first innings at 311-6, giving South Africa a lead of 43.

South Africa's four-pronged pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Rory Kleinveldt had a 58-over work-out with Philander chipping in with 2-39 while Morkel got 1-26.

Brief scores: South Africa 354-8 (J. Kallis 70, A. Petersen 58, AB de Villiers 58, Hashim Amla 50, JP Duminy 49) and 109-3 (F. de Plessis 42)

Pakistan 'A' 311-6 dec (Ahmed Shahzad 66, Azhar Ali 54, Shan Masood 50, Asad Shafiq 42; V. Philander 2-39)