SA 1st Inns 584/9dec & 173/4
Pakistan 434
Another action packed day at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi has given the South Africans an outside chance of winning the Test as they took their lead to 323 at stumps on day four.
Resuming at the overnight score of 317/6, Pakistan were given a big scare on the first ball of the day when their captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn that rapped him in front of the stumps.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 was in real danger of falling short of the follow-on target but left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and fast bowler Umar Gul added 36 crucial runs for the 8th wicket. Gul who has scored some valuable runs for his team in the lower order smashed
two spanking boundaries of Steyn to highlight his intentions.
He was looking set to inflict more damage on the Proteas when another umpiring howler from Daryl Harper sent him packing.
Gul was adjudged lbw despite gloving attempted sweep of left arm spinner Paul Harris; he scored 21 runs off 36 balls.
He was dismissed with Pakistan 32 runs shy of the follow-on mark but Rehman got great support from first innings bowling hero Tanvir Ahmed who scored 30 runs in his first-ever test innings.
The pacer added an invaluable 59 runs for the ninth wicket with Rehman to ensure that the Proteas bat again.
The duo took Pakistan to 412/8 at lunch, however Tanvir perished soon afterwards with Ashwell Prince taking his catch off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722. The right hander faced a total of 45 balls and struck 6 fours in his impressive innings.
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 434 with Rehman the last batsman dismissed. He scored 60 runs off 139 balls which included 8 fours and a six.
It is pertinent to add here that after a long time the tail wagged for Pakistan and took them past the follow-on mark besides pushing the score past 400-run mark for the first time this year.
The South Africans themselves suffered a big blow as captain Graeme Smith did not come out to open the innings as he redeveloped the hand injury that he sustained during the ODI series.
"It is the same hand that was injured during the ODI series against Pakistan three weeks ago," South Africa's team manager Mohammed Moosajee said.
"It was aggravated by the continuous wear and tear involved with fielding and batting and flared up while he was fielding during the current Test match."
The manager added that Smith was confident of recovering in time for the Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 that is set to start next month.
Meanwhile the South Africans started confidently as they aimed to score quick runs and build onto their lead. Opener Hashim Amla continued his rich vein of form scoring 62 off only 64 balls before being bowled by a beauty by Abdur Rehman.
Alviro Petersen scored 35 runs, while first innings centurions AB DeVilliers and Jacques Kallis were sent packing for 25 and 10 runs respectively.
Kallis was dismissed by Mohammad Hafeez while Rehman accounted for both Petersen and DeVilliers.
The test match ends tomorrow, with a fascinating battle in the offing between the bat and the ball as Pakistan aim to avoid a series defeat.
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