Pakistan go to tea four wickets down in search of 480 runs for victory against South Africa

By Tristan Holme

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A wicket for each of South Africa’s four seamers saw the home side edge towards victory as Pakistan reached tea on 104-4 on day three of the first test.

Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis all claimed a scalp apiece as the Proteas chipped away at Pakistan after setting it 480 to win.

With the top four back in the pavilion, Pakistan required a further 376 runs for victory. Misbah-ul-Haq, on eight, and Asad Shafiq, on 13, were the unbeaten batsmen at the tea break.

Philander had set the ball rolling before lunch when he had Mohammad Hafeez caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers, and a sustained assault by all four pacemen after the break ensured a triple breakthrough in the second session.

Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed had scored a brisk 39 in the first session, but added just six runs after lunch before he flicked a Steyn delivery to Robin Peterson at short mid-on.

Azhar Ali was the next batsman to go, trapped lbw by Kallis, and Younis Khan followed when he edged a Morne Morkel delivery through to De Villiers.

That left Pakistan on 80-4, before Misbah and Shafiq saw their side to three figures for the first time in the test, after Pakistan was bowled out for 49 in the first innings.

South Africa had delivered a statement of intent on the morning of the third day as it declared its second innings on 275-3.

Although Pakistan requires a world-record score to win, and was bowled out for its lowest ever test score in its first innings, it was a positive declaration from South Africa captain Graeme Smith given that the match had not reached the halfway stage.

After a boundary took De Villiers to 103 not out from just 117 balls, Smith immediately declared South Africa’s innings.

South Africa had resumed on its overnight total of 207-3, and De Villiers and Hashim Amla scored at will as they added 68 runs in just 45 minutes.

Amla, unbeaten on 74, was denied the opportunity of a 20th test hundred as the Proteas looked to bring the test to a swift conclusion.

09:03ET 03-02-13