Pakistan Two Down After South Africa Set Target Of 451

Pakistan Two Down After South Africa Set Target Of 451

Hashim Amla (left) and Jacques Kallis both registered unbeaten centuries as South Africa declared to set Pakistan 451 to win in Dubai

©REUTERS/Arko Datta (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET IMAGES OF THE DAY) Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa 380 (Smith 100) & 318-2 (Kallis 135no) v
Pakistan 248 (Morkel 5-55) & 109-2 (Azhar Ali 37no)
First Test, Dubai, day four
Scorecard

Pakistan closed day four of the first Test against South Africa in Dubai on 109 for two having been set 451 to win following another assured batting performance from the Proteas.

Thanks to unbeaten centuries from both Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, South Africa declared their second innings on 318 for two to ask Pakistan to chase a score that has never previously been achieved in Test match cricket.

Resuming the day on 139 for two, Kallis went on to score an unbeaten 135 in 218 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes while Amla stroked 118 not out in 225 deliveries with ten boundaries.

The pair put on an unbroken stand of 242 for the third wicket before South Africa decided to declare and set Pakistan the task of making history or batting out just over four sessions for the draw.

Pakistan began solidly as openers Mohammad Hafeez (34) and Taufeeq Umar (22) added 41 for the first wicket before Hafeez edged Dale Steyn to Johan Botha at slip and Umar was caught by Kallis off Botha having faced 92 balls.

That brought Azhar Ali, unbeaten on 37, and Younus Khan, on 11, together, and they survived a testing spell late in the day to take their side to stumps with eight wickets remaining and still very much in with a chance of at least sacingsaving the match.

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