Pakistan fight to save Dubai Test
SA 380 and 318/2 PAK 248 and 187/3 LUNCH DAY 5
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 positively as they lose only a single wicket in the morning session and increase their chances of saving the Test.
Set a daunting target of 451 runs for a win after the Proteas declared their second innings at 318/2 on day four of the Test, the fragile Pakistan batting line-up had a big task ahead just to avoid a defeat.
They did reasonably well on the fourth afternoon losing only 2 wickets ending the day at 109/2. The two wickets to fall were that of openers Taufeeq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez.
Hafeez scored 34 while the left-handed Umar went for 21 runs, resuming at the overnight score the two Pakistani unbeaten batsmen Younis Khan and Azhar Ali were off to an anxious start.
Azhar Ali, who was hit on his right thumb by a raring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn delivery, in the dying moments of play on day four, was in for a torrid time and was smacked once again by a Jacques Kallis delivery.
On the other hand Younis survived a scare early on day 5 when his attempted drive off Dale Steyn took the outside edge of the bat and carried through to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, who dropped a catchable chance, diving full length to his right side.
Azhar Ali carried on his fighting knock and reached his second consecutive half-century, the 50 was the fourth of his career.
The right hander has already indicated that he has the temperament to survive in the longest format of the game and dig in deep when ever needed.
He played some delightful shots but more importantly held firm at one end, the right hander was eventually dismissed when he got a beauty from left arm spinner Paul Harris.
The ball pitched on the middle-stump and hit the top of the off stump to send him packing. Azhar Ali struck 7 fours in his 63 run knock that came off 150 balls.
Younis Khan continued his resolute knock from the other end as Misbah ul-Haq, who looked nervous from the outset, got a life.
The Pakistani captain was dropped by Hashim Amla at short-leg. But Misbah followed that with a boundary and survived through to lunch.
He was unbeaten on 14, while Younis had made a workmanlike 46 off 112 balls, with 3 fours.
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