2nd Test in Dubai: Proteas thrash Pakistan to level series

South Africa kept their seven-year unbeaten away record intact with an innings and 92-run win over Pakistan in the second and final Test in Dubai on Saturday, squaring the two-match series 1-1.

It was a thorough and professional comeback by the world number one Test team after going down in last week's first Test by seven wickets, but the Proteas out-batted and out-bowled Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket stadium.

The win was completed with a day and 9.5 overs to spare when Pakistan were bowled out for 326 in their second innings after they conceded a big 418-run lead in the first innings.

But Pakistan did not go down without a fight as Asad Shafiq (130) notched his fourth Test hundred and, along with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (88), frustrated the South Africans during a 197-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir finished with 3-98 and took a total of eight wickets in the match, while part-time right-arm offbreak bowler Jean-Paul Duminy took Shafiq's wicket on the way to career best figures of 3-98.

However, South Africa's deserved win was tainted by a ball-tampering row on Friday, when Faf Du Plessis was caught on television cameras scratching the ball on the zip of his trousers.

The on-field umpires Rod Tucker of Australia and Ian Gould of England along with television umpire Paul Reiffel warned South African captain Graeme Smith, changed the ball and gave five penalty runs to Pakistan.

The ICC (International Cricket Council) match referee David Boon of Australia then fined Du Plessis 50 per cent of his match fee on Saturday.

Pakistan were left to rue their low score of 99 in the first innings which never allowed them to add to their only series win over South Africa in 2003 and, after their rivals piled up a mammoth 517 runs in reply, the writing was on the wall.

But when it looked like Misbah and Shafiq would guide Pakistan towards safety, the Pakistani skipper fell to a smart move by his counterpart Smith, who brought on part-timer Dean Elgar, and the left-hand slow bowler did not take long to make an impact.

Misbah's miscued drive off Elgar was well caught by Jacques Kallis, ending a 349-minute vigil in which he hit six boundaries and a six off 218 balls.

Shafiq reached his hundred with a superb on-drive off Duminy for his 11th boundary to complete his second hundred against South Africa.

In the morning, Misbah and Shafiq had added injury to South Africa's insult by batting with a resolve to fight hard after they resumed at 132-4.

Shafiq, on 36, got a reprieve early in the day when a leg-before decision by Australian umpire Rod Tucker was overturned on review. The unlucky bowler was paceman Vernon Philander in the fifth over in the day.

Shafiq, who scored 54 in Pakistan's seven-wicket win in last week's first Test in Abu Dhabi, reached his ninth Test fifty when he guided Duminy towards third man.

In all Shafiq batted for seven hours, hit 15 boundaries and a six in a 320-ball knock, improving on his highest score of 111 made against the same opposition in Cape Town earlier this year.

Misbah followed Shafiq, reaching his 22nd half-century at Test level with a single towards third man off paceman Morne Morkel.

The highlight of the match was Smith's epic 234 and AB de Villiers' 164 during their all-time South African Test record stand for the fifth wicket of 338.

The two teams now play a five-match one-day series, the first of which will be in Sharjah on Wednesday. They will also play two Twenty20 internationals.

PAKISTAN SECOND INNINGS

South Africa crushed Pakistan by an innings and 92 runs in the second Test to level the two-match series 1-1 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Having begun the fourth day trailing by 286 runs, a defiant 197-run stand between the overnight pair Misbah ul Haq and Asad Shafiq kept alive their hopes of averting an innings defeat.

But once Misbah fell for 88 before tea becoming debutant Elgar's first Test wicket, it was only a matter of time before South Africa got the remaining wickets with Babar unable to bat having broken his finger.

Misbah faced 218 balls hitting six boundaries and a six while Shafiq stroked a dogged 130 off 320 balls with 15 fours and a six.

Tahir claimed three for 98 and Duminy three for 67.

Pakistan are all out for 326 with injured Babar being unable to bat to hand South Africa victory by an innins and 92 runs.

Pakistan's last wall of resistance Shafiq is out stumped. Pak 326-9 in 135.1 overs.

Asad Shafiq st de Villiers b Duminy 130 (320b 15x4 1x6)

Duminy strikes bowling Irfan off his pads. Pak 323-8 in 131.1 overs.   

Mohammad Irfan b Duminy 14 (29b 3x4 0x6)

Shafiq slams another boundary off Steyn to reach 323-7 in 131 overs.

The Pakistan tail is wagging with Irfan swinging Tahir for a couple of boundaries to square leg. Pak 319-7 in 130 overs.

Irfan gets a boundary off thick outside edge off Steyn to third man. Pak 311-7 in 129 overs.

Tahir gets another. He is looking good for another big haul. Pak 301-7 in 123.1 overs.

Saeed Ajmal lbw b Imran Tahir 9 (28b 0x4 0x6)

Two successive boundaries and Pakistan cross 300. They are still 117 runs behind. Pak 301-6 in 123 overs.

Shafiq and Ajmal dragging the proceedings as long as possible. Smith operating his best bowlers at the moment. Pak 283-6 in 118 overs.

Tahir gets his second wicket of the innings. He was desperately looking for one today. Akmal is gone as Pakistan slump. Pak 278-6 in 115.4 overs.

Adnan Akmal lbw b Imran Tahir 5 (21b 0x4 0x6)

Shafiq and Akmal in the middle. Tahir to bowl. Pak 274-5 in 113 overs.

AFTERNOON INNINGS

That's tea. It was brilliant batting on display from Pakistan's Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq before South Africa picked the prized wicket of Misbah. Shafiq continues to battle hard with an unbeaten 114. Pak 274-5 in 113 overs.

What was Misbah doing. A totally unwanted shot and that cost him his wicket. Dean Elgar gets his first Test wicket. All smiles. Pak 267-5 in 108.4 overs.

Misbah ul-Haq c Kallis b Elgar 88 (218b 6x4 1x6)

A boundary and Asad Shafiq gets a brilliant century. Has come at the best of the time when Pakistan needed it the most. Pak 255-4 in 103.1 overs.

Both batsmen in their 80s. Pak 239-4 in 100 overs.

Pakistan now trail by 181 runs. Shafiq is growing in confidence playing his shots without a fuss. Pak 237-4 in 98 overs.

Partnership reaches 145 as Pakistan battle on. Pak 215-4 in 90 overs.

Batsmen are back in the middle. The new ball was taken just a while ago before lunch. Morkel picks the ball.

MORNING SESSION

That's Lunch. Commendable resistance from Pakistan batsmen Misbah and Shafiq. They ensured not a wicket was lost in the first session leaving the Proteas bowlers frustrated. Pak 198-4 in 84 overs.

South African bowlers desperately trying everything possible but with no luck. Pak 196-4 in 80 overs.

Deserving half centuries for Misbah and Shafiq. They have really worked hard for this. Pak 178-4 in 75 overs

Solid defence from both Misbah and Shafiq. SA lost a review in the process called for an lbw. Shafiq called for a review and won it. Pak 147-4 in 62 overs.

No early threats for Pakistan. Both batsmen look to be in the comfort zone. Meanwhile Faf du Plessis has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees after he was held guilty for changing the condition of the ball on the third day of the second test. It looks like he got away with a light punishment. Pak 141-4 in 58 overs.

Misbah and Shafiq are in the middle. They have a mammoth task on hand to save this Test. Pak 132-4 in 55 overs.

Pakistan face a Herculean task to prevent South Africa from securing a series-levelling victory in the second Test when play resumes on Day Four at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa need six wickets to complete victory after Pakistan ended the day on 132-4 - still trailing by 286 runs.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (42 not out) and Asad Shafiq (28 not out) will resume their unbeaten 62-run partnership on day four.

Misbah's men are now staring at defeat after South Africa piled up a mammoth 517 in reply to Pakistan's paltry first innings total of 99.

While Pakistan launched a belated fightback to save the match, South Africa tried to shake off accusations of ball tampering after umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker concluded that the ball's condition had been changed contrary to the rules of the game.

South African captain Graeme Smith was notified of the decision during a terse exchange with the on-field officials in the 31st over of Pakistan's second innings and the ball was replaced from a box carried on to the pitch by fourth umpire Shozab Raza.

Gould also signalled a five run-penalty, effectively accusing the top-ranked test side of seeking to unnaturally alter the state of the ball.

Television footage showed fielder Faf du Plessis allegedly rubbing the ball on the zipper of his trouser pocket, while a second clip showed another player appearing to pick at the side of the ball with his finger.

A five-run penalty and a change of the ball is implemented when the umpires feel the ball has been tampered with.

The tampering controversy followed an earlier incident when Pakistan bowler Mohammad Irfan was removed from the Pakistan attack after a third warning in the innings for stepping into the line of the stumps on his follow through.

It effectively meant he scuffed up the pitch to the benefit of the bowlers, who had a much better day on Friday after just a single wicket fell on Thursday when South Africa gorged on a run feast to put themselves in line to square the two-match series.

Pakistan won the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week by seven wickets.

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