South African paceman Dale Steyn took two wickets in the space of five balls to restrict Pakistan to 220-4 and give South Africa some hope of enforcing the follow-on on the third day of the second test on Monday.
The 27-year-old Steyn removed Younis Khan (14) and Azhar Ali (90) before Pakistan — still needing 165 runs to avoid the follow-on — were helped by Asad Shafiq (38) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (22) who avoided any further loss until the tea break.
Both Shafiq and Misbah have so far added 64 for the unfinished fifth wicket stand. South Africa had declared their first innings at 584-9 on Sunday.
Pakistan had lost only opener Taufiq Umer (43) in the morning session but Steyn raised some hopes through deliveries which came off slow on the flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.
Younis miscued a drive and was caught at covers before Ali, Pakistan’s fast rising batsman, gave a simple catch to Graeme Smith at mid-off, wickets which slid Pakistan from well-placed 153-2 to 156-4.
Shafiq, playing his first test, has so far batted confidently, hitting six boundaries off 65 balls he faced. That included three in one Johan Botha over.
Haq matched his junior partner, also hitting Botha for three consecutive boundaries in the over.
Resuming at 59-1, Pakistan’s batsmen faced no problems as the Umer-Ali duo put on 117 for the second wicket stand before Jacques Kallis provided his team with its only breakthrough by dismissing Umer.
Ali hit paceman Morne Morkel for his eighth boundary to complete his fifth Test half-century — his third consecutively in the series after hitting one in each innings of the drawn first Test in Dubai.
Ali then had a lucky escape when, on 64, he edged left-arm spinner Paul Harris towards forward short-leg where AB de Villiers juggled with the ball before dropping it.
Ali hit 12 boundaries during his 175-ball knock, falling two runs short of his Test best of 92, made against England at The Oval three months ago. — Sapa-AFP