South Africa Struggle After Misbah Century

Misbah-ul-Haq added 100 in 187 balls as Pakistan remained in control in Abu Dhabi

South Africa 249 (Amla 118) & 72-4 v
Pakistan 442 (Khurram Manzoor 146)
First Test, Abu Dhabi, day three
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq added a century on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi to help put his side in a dominant position.

Misbah scored 100 in 187 balls as Pakistan were bowled out for 442 and they built on their first-innings lead of 193 by reducing South Africa to 72 for four in their second innings.

There were also runs for Asad Shafiq (54) and Adnan Akmal (32) as Pakistan's batsmen backed up their bowlers' sterling work in bowling South Africa out for 249 in their first innings.

Put under pressure, South Africa's top order then struggled again as Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqur Babar took a wicket apiece.

Pakista resumed on 263 for three and Khurram Manzoor soon set a new record for the highest score by a Pakistani in a Test match against South Africa before he was caught by Jacques Kallis off Vernon Philander for a magnificent 146 in 266 balls that included 15 fours.

He and Misbah had added 112 for the fourth wicket and Misbah, along with Shafiq, continued to forge Pakistan ahead.

Shafiq fell to Duminy and soon after Misbah had completed his fourth Test century, he was trapped in front by Dale Steyn to leave Pakistan 394 for three.

Akmal then took the opportunity to score as many runs as he could as Ajmal (13), Babar (2) and Junaid (3) offered little resistance.

Steyn (3-88) and Philander (3-84) were the pick of the bowlers while Duminy returned two for 68.

South Africa made a bright enough start to their second innings as Graeme Smith (32) and Alviro Petersen (17) added 38 before Petersen was caught by Akmal off Irfan.

Smith was the next to go when he was stumped off Ajmal and Jacques Kallis was given a birthday to forget when he was trapped in front by Junaid for a five-ball duck.

Hashim Amla hit 118 to prop up South Africa's first innings but the Proteas will need to rely on somebody else for the remainder of this game after he was caught behind off Babar in the final over of the day.

AB de Villiers was left unbeaten on 11 in 28 balls and nightwatchman Steyn did his job as nightwatchman by seeing off five balls without scoring.

© Cricket World 2013

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