Pakistan stands firm on day three

Pakistan has 93 for one in the first session on the third day of the second test against South Africa, chasing a mammoth 584/9 declared by the Proteas.

At the crease are Taufeec Umar (29*) and Azhar Ali (55*). Dale Steyn managed to take the only wicket for the South African’s yesterday afternoon, when he trapped Mohammad Hafeez LBW for two, but the batting surface has so far lent very little assistance to the South African attack.

AB’s record
AB de Villiers was still at the crease with his score on 278 not out when Graeme Smith declared yesterday afternoon; a new record for a South African batsman in Test cricket. De Villiers gave credit to Smith for allowing him to reach the record total: “He showed a lot of class in his captaincy by allowing me to go through and to get that record. I thought we could have declared a bit earlier but he wanted me to push on and to get that record.”

The first match of the Test series was drawn in Dubai and South Africa needs to notch up a win in the next three days to take the T20 series, the ODI series and the Tests. The Pakistani batsmen look to be in little trouble, however, and indications are that this match could have no result.