ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq dug in as they reached 127 for three at tea in their bid to deny South Africa victory on the fifth and final day of the second test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.
Misbah (45) and Azhar Ali (16) were sharing an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 61 after South Africa rocked Pakistan with a burst of three wickets for no runs in seven balls as the hosts chased a formidable target of 354 to win.
South Africa captain Jacques Kallis, deputising for GraemeSmith who has a fractured hand, persisted with the dual spin attack of left-armer Paul Harris and off-spinner Johan Botha after lunch and it paid off handsomely.
Taufeeq Umar (30) was obviously playing for turn when Botha trapped him lbw in the second over after lunch with a delivery that just went straight on with the arm.
Harris then struck twice in the next over, winning lbw decisions against Mohammad Hafeez (34) and Younis Khan (0), both batsmen also falling to arm-balls.
Pakistan were reeling at 66 for three but Misbah, with two half-centuries in his three previous knocks in the series, shored up the innings.
Apart from a couple of loose strokes outside off stump against fast bowler Dale Steyn, the 36-year-old looked untroubled at the crease.
South Africa's bowlers were toiling on a rock-hard, shaven pitch with Harris taking tea with figures of two for 26 in 14overs, while Botha had one for 25 in eight.
Despite a bright start, Pakistan's chances of reaching the victory target were fading with 35 overs remaining.
Pakistan seemed in no difficulty as opening batsmen Hafeezand Taufeeq took them through to lunch on 66 without loss.
South Africa, who led by 150 runs on first innings, batted on for six overs in the morning, taking their score from 173 forfour to 203 for five declared, to set Pakistan 354 to win in a minimum of 82 overs.
The first match in the two-test series was drawn in Dubai.
Pakistan claimed one wicket in the morning, Umar Gul bowling Mark Boucher for 15, before Ashwell Prince (47 not out) andBotha (seven not out) carried South Africa to the declaration.
But the South Africans, having earlier reached 113 for one after 21 overs on the fourth afternoon, added just 90 more runs in 34 overs, probably killing off their chances of winning the test and the series.
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