Pakistan ended day 3 in Johannesburgh on 183/4 - still needing another 297 as they look to chase down a massive 481 to win the first test match. Asad Shafiq and Misbah ul Haq steadied the ship with a century stand late in the day.

Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Teams

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali

South Africa: Graeme Smith*, Alviro Peterson, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kalli, AB De Villiers†, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn


Day 3

The first two days of this Test match summed up the rollercoaster ride that all fans of the Pakistan cricket team go through. Having produced a phenomenal bowling performance against the world’s number one side on the opening day, Pakistan were blown away for their lowest score in history on day two, effectively conceding the Test match. As a result, the interest in the match today from a Pakistani perspective had certainly dwindled, and it just remained to be seen when South Africa would declare and unleash their bowlers on the Pakistani batsmen again.

Having taken three wickets the day before, Pakistan were unable to further dent the South African batting lineup in the morning session, as AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla continued on their merry way and racked up a huge lead. De Villiers was particularly aggressive, and brought up a century at a strike rate above 85, at which point Graeme Smith declared setting an impossible target of 480 for victory. Amla finished unbeaten on 74, proving once again what a high quality batsman he has become.

The Pakistani opening pair knew what to expect, high quality fast bowling in the difficult channel outside off stump with prodigious movement either way. It was therefore disappointing to see Hafeez being dismissed to a ball down leg-side which he feathered through to the keepr to hand South Africa an early breakthrough. At 7-1, signs were that the disaster of the first innings could repeat itself.

Surprisingly it didn’t however, as Azhar Ali and Nasir Jamshed fought hard to keep their innings going. Jamshed in particular played some excellent shots and ensured he cashed in whenever the bowlers erred in line of length. Pakistan crossed their first innings total of 49 for the loss of just one wicket, but then Jamshed played a disappointing pull shot in the air and was taken by the fielder at short mid-wicket. Azhar Ali followed shortly after, dismissed LBW following review after a barrage of short bowling from Kallis which pegged him back in his crease.

After his duck in the first innings, Younis Khan had a point to prove, and looked somewhat more assured against the moving ball. His dismissal proved otherwise though, as an indecisive leave took his outside edge and went through to the keeper to leave Pakistan on 82-4 and well and truly beaten.

Asad Shafiq joined Misbah in the middle after Younis's departure as the pair looked to build some sort of partnership. The duo looked to ensure they do not loose their wicket - picking up mostly singles and the odd boundary when available moving the score past 150.

With the score on 155 the South African side thought the partnership was finally broken as a loose shot by Shafiq off of Philanders bowling was guided in to the safe hands of Smith at first slip - however, replays showed the bowler had over stepped to give the batsmen an extra life. In the very next over is was the Pakistani skipper Misbah who was given a reprieve as he slashed Kallis to point where Philander put down a sharp chance - was luck starting to swing Pakistans way?

Shafiq looked to capitalize on the opportunity gifted to him by the opposition as he bought up his half century with a square cut in front of point to the boundary for four. The partnership continued to prosper as the number of runs required for an extremely unlikely victory dropped underneath 300; and the pair bought up their 100 run stand with a mistimed pull shot by Misbah which landed safely.

Shafiq and Misbah managed to negotiate the remainder of the day safely which was much needed by a Pakistani point of view. With an extremely more batting display so far in the match this partnership can really lift the spirits of the changing room for the remainder of the door.

Fall of Wickets

7-1 (Hafeez, 3.6 ov)
64-2 (Jamshed, 21.5 ov)
70-3 (Azhar, 24.4 ov)
82-4 (Younis, 29.5 ov)


Summary

AB de Villiers and Amla continued to pile up the misery for Pakistan as they got South Africas lead to a staggering 480 - largely due to an unbeaten century by de Villiers. Pakistan lost Hafeez early, as once again it looked like the Pakistani batting would crumble without much of a fight. However, Jamshed and Azhar Ali built up a 57 run Partnership before Jamshed departed. Pakistan then suffered a mini collapse as they lost 3 wickets less then 20 runs as Azhar Ali and Younis Khan departed as well, leaving the score on 82/4. At this stage Asad shafiq joined the Pakistani skipper at the crease as the pair built a much needed unbeaten hundred partnership. The Partnership and last session of the day gave the Pakistani fans a glimmer of hope - specially with a lot of rain in the forecasts in Jo'Burgh over the next 24 hours.

However, South Africa still seem to have a very firm grip on the game, but with Pakistan you simply never know.