October 18, 2013
Brief Scorecard: Pakistan 442 (Manzoor 146, Misbah 100) and 45 for 3 beat South Africa 249 (Amla 118, Irfan 3-44) and 232 (de Villiers 90, Ajmal 4-74) by seven wickets
Saeed Ajmal finished with 4 for 74 to limit South Africa's lead to 39
October 18, 2013
Brief Scorecard: Pakistan 442 (Manzoor 146, Misbah 100) and 45 for 3 beat South Africa 249 (Amla 118, Irfan 3-44) and 232 (de Villiers 90, Ajmal 4-74) by seven wickets
Saeed Ajmal finished with 4 for 74 to limit South Africa's lead to 39
Durban: Pakistan inflicted South Africa's first Test defeat in nearly two years with a seven-wicket victory on day four in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa, the top ranked Test team, had not lost since Sri Lanka beat them in Durban in December 2011 – a run stretching back 15 matches – but Pakistan outplayed them to win the first Test.
After bowling their opponents out for 232 in their second innings, Pakistan required just 40 runs to wrap up the victory and, although they lost three wickets before reaching their target, Misbah-ul-Haq (28 not out) smashed a six to finish the contest in style.
Saeed Ajmal (4-74) and Junaid Khan (3-57) did most of the damage with the ball as South Africa, having resumed on 4-72, were thwarted in their attempts to build a meaningful lead.
AB De Villiers' patient 90 was the highlight of their second innings, but, save for a late rally from Robin Peterson (47no), he had little support from his team-mates.
Having afforded themselves the luxury of such a low target to chase down, Pakistan soon slumped to 3-7 as South Africa made a fight of it.
Wicketkeeper De Villiers took two catches off the accurate seam bowling of Vernon Philander (2-11) to account for the opening pair of Khurram Manzoor (four) and Shan Masood (nought).
Azhar Ali lasted eight deliveries before Dale Steyn (1-7) deceived him with one that pitched in line with off-stump before darting away, clipping the edge of the bat and nestling in the palms of Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Younis Khan and Misbah restored a sense of calm, the former playing a cautious 36-ball innings that yielded just nine runs but afforded his captain the chance to play his shots.
Misbah accepted the challenge of being the man to get his team over the line, drawing confidence from his first-innings century.
The 39-year-old hit two fours and, having already cleared the rope once, served up another six to put Pakistan 1-0 up with one Test to play.
Courtesy: PTI
