South Africa v Pakistan 2nd Test: Pakistan 100-3 at stumps on day three

Pakistan recovered to reach 100 for three at stumps in their second innings on day three of the second Test against South Africa at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

South Africa rocked Pakistan by dismissing both openers Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed for a duck and later the experienced Younis Khan.

But Azhar Ali (45) and skipper Misbah ul Haq (36) weathered to storm with a fighting unbroken fourth wicket stand of 38.

Azhar faced 134 balls and hit six boundaries during his knock while Misbah despite being more circumspect smashed three sixes off spinner Robin Peterson in addition to two boundaries having faced 81 balls.

Steyn ended the day with two for 24 while Philander took the other wicket.

Earlier, South Africa were powered by a career-best 84 by Robin Peterson and AB de Villiers (61) to steer them within 12 runs of Pakistan's first innings total of 338.

Resuming from their overnight 139 for five, South Africa strung together partnerships to frustrate Pakistan who took the second new ball with the total on 208 for six.

The hosts recovered from 109-5 with the second half of the batting adding 217 runs playing with ease against both spin and pace.

Overnight pair Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers added 55 runs but the best partnership of the South African innings was 67 for the eighth wicket between Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander.

"I am pretty happy. I think Pakistan are one of the better test attacks and to score runs against them is very satisfying," the 33-year-old Peterson told reporters.

"I think the match is pretty evenly poised now."

Off spinner Saeed Ajmal who bowled unchanged until the second new ball was taken finished with six for 96 while Test debutant mopped up the tail to claim three for 86.

"Ajmal is a genius with the ball, he has four different deliveries an over. But I thought even with the lower order, the longer we batted against him the more we got used to the way he bowled," Peterson said.

"All the guys will now go away and devise some game-plans against him. We know he will be their main weapon and we don't want to chase much over 250 in the final innings against him."

EVENING SESSION

Misbah u Haq seems to have taken a fancy to Robin Peterson belting him for his third six this time over mid wicket to bring up the 100 of the Pakistan innings.

Pakistan are 100-3 after 44 overs in their second innings on the third day of the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Azhar Ali has hit another boundary to third man as Pakistan steadily extend their lead.

Azhar Ali also breaks the shackles by gliding Philander past gully to the third man boundary to extend Pakistan's lead to 100.

Vernon Philander returns to bowl a maiden over to Azhar Ali who is uncharacteristically subdued.

Misbah has hit a second six off Peterson who tosses up to him and brings the crowd alive by clearing the stands.

Pakistan seem content to play out the remaining nine overs for the day without any further mishap with Misbah and Azhar having added 30 runs so far for the fourth wicket.

Misbah has hit Peterson for a six over long off to lift to break the monotony.

Robin Peterson has sent down another maiden to Azhar Ali who survives after the left arm spinner puts down a sharp chance.

Misbah has finally broken the ice after 34 balls by getting slashing a boundary to third man off Kallis.

Jacques Kallis completes Morkel's over but the scoreboard has come to a standstill with South Africa sending down four consecutive maiden overs.

Morne Morkel has once again pulled up before delivering the ball after bowling three overs with a suspected hamstring which would be a major blow for South Africa as drinks are taken in the final session.

Runs have dried up for Pakistan with Misbah and Azhar Ali content to occupy the crease playing down three consecutive maiden overs.

Misbah finally breaks the shackles opening his account with a boundary off Philander after going 16 balls without scoring to bring up the 50 of the Pakistan second innings in the 22nd over.

There is no respite for Misbah ul Haq and Pakistan as Vernon Philander returns to replace Steyn.Dale Steyn is on fire hurling thunderbolts in a bid to unsettle the Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq.

Dale Steyn may have swung the match South Africa's way by dismissing Younis Khan with a scorcher bowling him off an inside edge after a barrage of short pitched deliveries.

First innings centurion Younis Khan made 14 off 43 balls dragged the ball onto his stumps losing the war of attrition against Steyn who is credited with having sent the fastest ball of the match at 149 kph.

Robin Peterson has been introduced into the attack but is unsuccessful with a decision review against Azhar Ali after a leg before appeal was turned down.

Younis Khan is not displaying the same fluency and confidence he showed in the first innings failing to read Steyn's deliveries or is it a case of the pitch playing tricks.

It will be interesting to see as this session pans out whether Pakistan will take a positive approach in a bid to square the series despite the early setbacks.

Dale Steyn is scenting blood hurtling down one of the fastest deliveries of the match timed at 146.5 kph to Azhar Ali who is batting positively.

Azhar Ali opens with a boundary to square leg off Morne Morkel after the tea interval.

zhar Ali is batting on 19 and Younis Khan is with him after having lost opener Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed for a duck.

Pakistan began their second innings with a slender lead of 12 after bowling out South Africa for 326 but Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander dampened their hopes by trapping the openers leg before wicket.

South Africa were lifted by belligerent half centuries from AB de Villiers (61) and Robin Peterson (84) as the hosts wrested the initiative from Pakistan by scoring 197 after resuming on 139 for five.

The hosts recovered from 109-5 with the second half of the batting adding 217 runs playing with ease against both spin and pace.

Overnight pair Dean Elgar and AB de Villiers added 55 runs but the best partnership of the South African innings was 67 for the eighth wicket between Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander.

Off spinner Saeed Ajmal who bowled unchanged until the second new ball was taken finished with six for 96 while Test debutant mopped up the tail to claim three for 86.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Azhar Ali is nearly bowled off an inside edge by Steyn in his second over with the ball running to fine leg fence.

Nasir Jamshed is also out for a duck after facing four ball as Vernon Philander strikes with his third delivery trapping the left hander plumb.

Both Hafeez and Jamshed decide against taking a review after consulting their partners.

Azhar Ali hits a boundary off the first ball he faced from Steyn whipping it off his pads to square leg.

Pakistan are off to a horror start in the second innings with Mohammad Hafeez being out for a second-ball duck trapped leg before by Dale Steyn.

South Africa are all out for 326 in 102.1 overs in reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 338 after batting for one and half sessions on the third day of the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Robin Peterson emerged as the top scorer in the South African with a belligerent 84 off just 106 balls with 15 boundaries.

He took charge after the dismissal of overnight batsman AB de Villiers (61) with whom he added 46 runs for the seventh wicket.

Peterson's most productive partnership of the South Africa innings was 67 off 82 balls for the eighth wicket with Vernon Philander.

The tail continued to wag inspired by Peterson although they fell 12 runs short of Pakistan's total.

Robin Peterson is the last man out caught at long on by Umar Gul off Mohammad Hafeez after a splendid knock of 84 off 106 balls with 15 hits to the fence.

Morne Morkel joins the fun slamming a couple of boundaries off Irfan, square cutting and off driving to the long boundary as South Africa trail by just 13 runs when drinks are taken in the afternoon session.

South Africa are 326-9 after 102 overs in reply to Pakistan's total of 338 on the third day of the second Test at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Robin Peterson is flaying Saeej Ajmal slamming two more boundaries as South Africa close in on Pakistan's first innings total of 338.

Irfan bounces back after being hit for a couple of boundaries by Peterson to dismiss Dale Steyn (10) caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed.

Robin Peterson has cracked a couple of boundaries off Irfan, the first a powerful on drive and an edge over the keeper to bring up the 300 of the South African innings.

Robin Peterson has cut Ajmal for his 11 boundary to become the top scorer of the South African innings surpassing AB de Villiers' score of 61.

Steyn has hit another boundary off Irfan as South Africa trail by just 51 runs.

Irfan strikes to break the defiant eighth wicket stand dismissing Vernon Philander for 22 lobbing a catch Jamshed after putting on 67 runs in just 82 balls.

Philander cracked three boundaries, including one in the previous delivery before his soft dismissal, facing 43 balls and batted for 60 minutes.

Dale Steyn also picked a streaky boundary to third man off Irfan to the frustration of Pakistan.

Vernon Philander hits a lovely straight drive off Irfan as the South African eighth wicket pair continue to frustrate Pakistan.

Robin Petersen slammed two consecutive boundaries off Tanvir Ahmed to complete his second Test half century off just off 73 balls with nine hits to the fence.

It also brings up the 50 partnership for the eighth wicket between Petersen and Vernon Philander off just 56 balls.

Robin Peterson hits a superb cover drive off Umar Gul in the first over after lunch to bring up the 250 of the South African innings in the 89th over.

South Africa's tail enders defied Pakistan despite the second new ball being taken as lunch was taken on day three with the hosts trailing by 90 runs with three wickets in hands in the second Test at Newlands on Saturday.

AB de Villiers (61), let off on 37, led the fine rearguard action with two productive stands after South Africa continued from their overnight 139-5 in reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 338.

Overnight batsman Dean Elgar (23) added 55 runs for the sixth wicket with AB de Villiers who stepped up the tempo during a racy seventh wicket stand of 46 off 70 balls with Robin Peterson.

Pakistan got a breakthrough when the second new ball was taken with South Africa's total on 208-6 after 80 overs when Test debutant Irfan dismissed AB de Villiers.

Robin Petersen continued the resistance with an aggressive unbeaten knock of 40 off 64 with six boundaries.

Petersen's partnership with Vernon Philander for the unbroken eighth wicket is worth 38 off 43 balls but more significantly they are closing the gap on the deficit.

MORNING SESSION

Robin Petersen is defying Pakistan getting a streaky boundary off Gull via an inside edge as South Africa's deficit is less than 100 now.

South Africa are 248-7 after 88 overs on day three of the second Test in reply to Pakistan's total of 338 at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

South Africa have picked up a couple of boundaries off Irfan with Petersen square cutting him to point while Vernon Philander glances him to fine leg.

Robin Petersen is attacking Mohammad Hafeez who bowls the second over with the second new ball, giving him the charge to thump two boundaries to mid off and cover region.

Mohammad Irfan strikes with the second new ball to pick up his first wicket in Test cricket that of AB de Villiers who gets a leading edge to Gul at mid on.

AB de Villiers was proving to be a thorn in the flesh for Pakistan but perishes rather tamely spooning a catch to mid on after another productive seventh wicket stand of 46 with Robin Petersen.

Pakistan have taken the second new ball with South Africa 208 for 6 after 80 and trailing by 130 runs with four wickets in hand.

Robin Peterson cuts Ajmal for another boundary to bring up the 200 of the South African innings in the 78th over.

AB de Villiers has driven Irfan through the covers to pick up his seventh boundary despite a valiant effort by Hafeez to drag it back.

AB de Villiers completes his 32nd Test fifty and second against Pakistan by pulling Ajmal to fine leg for his sixth boundary.

Left hander Robin Petersen is showing that he is no mug with the bat sweeping Ajmal to the square leg boundary.

Run scoring may be difficult against Ajmal but the South Africans are at ease against the pacers with AB de Villiers executing a lovely cover drive for a boundary off Gul while new batsman Robin Petersen almost opens his account with a boundary.

AB de Villiers caps an expensive Gul over by virtually cutting him over the slip cordon for his fifth boundary.

Saeed Ajmal strikes in the 10th over of the third morning picking up his sixth wicket inducing Dean Elgar to attempt an expansive drive which loops to Younis Khan at slip for his second catch of the innings.

Elgar goes for 23 after facing 83 balls and hitting two boundaries during his sixth wicket stand of 55 in 97 minutes with AB de Villiers which is the highest partnership of the South African innings.

AB de Villiers is dropped on 37 by Azhar Ali at gully off Umar Gul with South Africa on 164 for five

Dean Elgar glances Umar Gul straying down the leg side to the fine leg boundary to bring up the 50 partnership for the sixth wicket in 139 balls with AB de Villiers.

Dean Elgar picks up his first boundary of the morning by square cutting Saeed Ajmal to bring up the 150 of the South African innings in the 64th over.

AB de Villiers has hit the first boundary of the morning rocking back and cutting Umar Gul past backward point.

Saeed Ajmal continues after having bowled unchanged from the second day afternoon as Pakistan look to wrap up the innings and get a crucial lead in a bid to level the series.

Umar Gul bowls a maiden to Dean Elgar to begin proceedings on the third morning at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Pakistan hold the whiphand when South African resume on day three of the second Test at Newlands on Saturday still trailing by 199 runs with five wickets in hand.

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