CAPTE TOWN – Half-centuries by Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam enabled Pakistan to avoid an innings defeat and take the second Test against South Africa at Newlands into a fourth day.
The last wicket eventually fell at 18:01 as Pakistan were bowled out for 294, but the umpires opted against bringing the sides back on for another half-an-hour.
Having taken the last four South African wickets in the first session of day three for only 47 runs, Pakistan then set about giving an improved account of themselves with the bat despite a massive first-innings deficit of 254.
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On Sunday morning, Faf du Plessis’ men will need 41 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series in what will be the seventh Test series in a row that the Proteas have won at home.
Babar Azam (72) showed plenty of fight, but the big wicket of Shafiq fell when Vernon Philander (1/51) picked up his first of the innings with a beautifully directed delivery that forced a prod from the batsman before nipping away slightly and finding the edge.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (6) was out LBW to Duanne Olivier (1/84) before Steyn got back into the act by removing Amir (0) with a vicious bouncer that he could only glove through to Quinton de Kock.
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Babar reached his 50 off just 55 balls as he chased down the deficit, but Steyn got the eighth wicket with another bumper that Yasir Shah (5) top edged to substitute fielder Zubayr Hamza at the finest of third man.
Azam was ninth out, caught at first slip off Rabada when Pakistan were only 16 runs ahead 15 minutes before the scheduled close.
The last wicket did eventually fall when Shaheen Afridi (14) was caught by Philander off Rabada, but the umpires called stumps as a frantic session came to an end.
The hosts won the first Test in Pretoria by six wickets inside eight sessions as both bowling attacks found conditions to their liking with seam movement, and at times steep bounce.
Pakistan are bolstered by the return of pacer Mohammad Abbas, who missed the first Test with a shoulder injury.
He has made a remarkable start to his Test career with 61 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 16.62.
Seamer Vernon Philander is back for South Africa. He has 49 wickets at an average of 16.55 at Newlands.
South Africa have won all three previous Tests against Pakistan at Newlands and have only lost four times in 24 matches against the sub-continent side at all venues.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt/wk), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Theunis de Bruyn, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier.
