Misbah-ul-Haq played a captain’s knock to ensure that Pakistan did not end up losing the Test series, after losing the T20 and One Day series in Dubai.
His innings of 58 not out helped Pakistan recover from a mini-crisis that seemed to have engulfed them right after the lunch. He was ably supported by Azhar Ali at the other end enabling him to steer the innings to a draw much like he had done in the first
Test of the series.
South Africa resumed day 5 on 173 for 4, an overall lead of 323 runs and added 30 runs in six overs before calling it off at 203-5. This gave Pakistan a target of 354 in 82 overs which ensured that the Pakistani team did not go out of its way to try something
risky.
The highlight of the day came when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Johan-Botha-c67173 took the wicket of Taufeeq Umar with a delivery that was tossed up and caught the batsman leg before wicket. That broke the instrumental partnership that Taufeeq Umar and Muhammad Hafeez had going at the time.
However, Muhammad Hafeez could only last four balls more than Taufeeq Umar as he too was trapped leg before wicket, but this time by Paul Harris. The delivery was such an exact trajectory that the umpire, Asoka de Silva did not even need to hear the complete
appeal before raising his finger to give Hafeez out.
Younis Khan was the next one to go for a duck, as he only lasted two balls before playing across the line of a straight ball from Paul Harris that kept low and did not turn much, and missed it completely. Even though Paul Harris wasn’t getting much turn,
he had given http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 a potential shot at victory.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 came into bat next and together with Azhar Ali was able to steady the ship as he batted it out to complete his seventh Test half century. Azhar Ali was a superb supporting batsman again, as he played with the depth and patience of
a veteran batsman by playing every ball on its merit and not taking any unnecessary risks.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 next.
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