ABU DHABI: Misbahul Haq played a captain’s knock of 58 not out to salvage Pakistan a draw in the second Test against South Africa and finish the two-match series without a result. Misbah, who scored an unbeaten 76 in the drawn first Test in Dubai last week, countered South African bowlers on a weary fifth day pitch at Abu Dhabi Stadium, taking Pakistan to 153-3 after they were set a 354-run target in 82 overs. Misbah added 87 for an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Azhar Ali, who made 28 not out, after South Africa threatened to run away with a victory taking three wickets in the space of eight balls soon after lunch. But Misbah, leading Pakistan for the first time in Tests, in the company of Ali foiled the away side, finishing with 10 boundaries during his 140-ball match-saving knock.
Ali, who hit three half-centuries in the previous three innings of the series, struck two boundaries and ably supported his captain. South Africa had declared their second innings at 203-5 after batting for half an hour on the final morning, but ran out of time to enforce a result on a pitch which gave very little response to the bowlers. Pakistan, ranked sixth in ICC (International Cricket Council) Test ranking, can take heart from their crisis-hit build-up to the series as they stopped Test’s second best team from winning any of the two Tests. Pakistan, however, have still not won any Test series since beating the West Indies at home in 2006, losing their last six and drawing four. Misbah said it had taken a team effort to keep South Africa at bay.“This drawn series will build our confidence for the next series,” said Misbah whose team next tour New Zealand for three Twenty20, two Tests and six one-day starting from late next month. “We have lacked consistency in Tests, but in this series everyone chipped in with performances, which was good,” said Misbah. Stand-in South African captain Jacques Kallis termed the result-less series as frustrating. “They were a frustrating two matches, but we can look back at some positive performances and go back home to take India next month,” said Kallis of the three-Test, five one-day and one Twenty20 series at home next month. Pakistan had raced to 66 without loss at lunch, but off-spinner Johan Botha provided the much-needed breakthrough by trapping Taufiq Umer leg-before for 30, before Harris trapped Mohammad Hafeez (34) and Younus Khan (nought) in his next over.
South Africa could have got Ali out in one Morne Morkel over, but wicket-keeper Mark Boucher hesitated to go for an edge when the batsman was on eight. South Africa – led by Kallis after captain Graeme Smith injured his finger on Tuesday and was unable to take to the field – used five bowlers but failed to make any further inroads. Resuming at 173-4, South Africa, looking for quick runs, added 30 in as many minutes before they declared the innings, giving their pace-cum-spin attack 82 overs to force a result. Paceman Umar Gul removed Mark Boucher (15) in the second over of the day to check South African progress. Ashwell Prince remained unbeaten on 47, while Johan Botha finished with seven not out when the innings was declared.Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman, who hit a career-best 60 to save Pakistan from follow-on on Tuesday, finished with 3-81. AB de Villiers, who hit South Africa’s highest Test score of 278 not out, was declared man-of-the-match. South Africa won the preceding two-match Twenty20 series 2-0 and the five-match one-day series 3-2, a tour shifted to United Arab Emirates because of security fears in Pakistan – Dailytimes
