Pakistan firm in response to South Africa’s 409

Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat were both unbeaten as Pakistan went to lunch on 9-0 in response to South Africa’s 409 all out.

Fast bowler Ali had figures of 6-127 in South Africa’s innings, but the home side was able to post a considerable total thanks to AB de Villiers’ 16th test century and 74 from Vernon Philander.

De Villiers and Philander put on 129 for the seventh wicket, with each benefiting from a dropped catch early in the morning session.

Philander was eventually held by first slip Hafeez after edging a delivery from Younis Khan, while De Villiers was dismissed five overs later for 121 when he took on a short ball from Ali and was well caught by Asad Shafiq at deep midwicket.

Ali secured his maiden five-wicket haul in his next over when he dismissed Rory Kleinveldt, then finished South Africa off by bowling Kyle Abbott for 13.

Pakistan was left with five overs to see off from Philander and Dale Steyn, which Hafeez and Farhat did without major incident.

SCOREBOARD

Graeme Smith c Khan b Adil 5

Alviro Petersen lbw b Rahat Ali 10

Hashim Amla c Ahmed b Rahat Ali 92

Faf du Plessis c Ahmed b Adil 29

AB de Villiers c Shafiq b Rahat Ali 121

Dean Elgar lbw b Rahat Ali 7

Robin Peterson run out 28

Vernon Philander c Hafeez b Khan 74

Kyle Abbott b Rahat Ali 13

Rory Kleinveldt c Ajmal b Rahat Ali

Dale Steyn not out 5

Extras: (6lb, 1b, 6w, 12nb) 25

TOTAL: (all out) 409

Overs: 103.2.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-38, 3-107, 4-186, 5-196, 6-248, 7-377, 8-394, 9-402.

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 21.5-3-80-0 (3nb), Rahat Ali 27.2-1-127-6 (6nb, 6w), Ehsan Adil 12.1-2-54-2 (3nb), Saeed Ajmal 29-6-76-0, Younis Khan 6-0-28-1, Mohammad Hafeez 5-0-24-0, Azhar Ali 2-0-13-0. Pakistan 1st Innings=

Mohammad Hafeez not out 1

Imran Farhat not out 8

Extras: 0

TOTAL: (for 0 wickets) 9

Overs: 5.

Still to bat: Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil.

Bowling: Dale Steyn 3-3-0-0, Vernon Philander 2-0-9-0.

Toss: South Africa.

Series: South Africa leads 2-0 with one match to play.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, New Zealand, and Steve Davis, Australia.

TV Umpire: Bruce Oxenford, Australia. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.