ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Azhar Ali fell 10 runs short of a maiden test century as Pakistan reached 317 for six at the close on the third day of the second test against South Africa at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium yesterday.
Azhar, who scored 56 and 63 in the drawn first test in Dubai, drove Dale Steyn to Graeme Smith at mid-off. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq continued Azhar’s good work with an unbeaten 77 to give his side hope of passing the follow-on target of 384. South Africa declared their first innings on 584 for nine.
Misbah came to the crease in the middle of a mini-collapse after Steyn had also removed Younus Khan. Mixing defence with attack, he batted through to the close which came two overs early due to bad light.
Misbah and debutant Asad Shafiq (61) shared a stand of 107 for the fifth wicket before left-arm spinner Paul Harris induced an edge from Shafiq, which was taken by Jacques Kallis at slip.
Harris then claimed a second wicket shortly before the close when he had Adnan Akmal caught at forward short-leg for 17.
Azhar scored his fifth half-century in eight tests and second score in the 90s, before driving Steyn on the up.
South Africa picked up one wicket in the first session, Taufeeq Umar, who scored 43 in three hours at the crease, top-edging a hook off Kallis into the hands of Hashim Amla at midwicket.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa first innings 584-9 dec (AB de Villiers 278 not out, J. Kallis 105; Tanvir Ahmed 6-120)
Pakistan first innings (overnight 59-1)
M. Hafeez lbw b Steyn 2
T. Umar c Amla b Kallis 43
A. Ali c Smith b Steyn 90
Younis c Amla b Steyn 14
Misbah-ul-Haq not out 77
A. Shafiq c Kallis b Harris 61
A. Akmal c Amla b Harris 17
A. Rehman not out 0
Extras (b 5,lb 6, w 1, nb 1) 13
Total (6 wickets; 106 overs) 317
Fall of wicket: 1-2 2-119 3-153 4-156 5-263 6-309
To bat: U. Gul, M. Sami, T. Ahmed
Bowling: D. Steyn 24-7-78-3 (w-1), M. Morkel 24-10-66-0 (nb-1), J. Kallis 17-6-47-1, J. Botha 11-3-44-0, P. Harris 30-10-71-2
