Second Test, Faisalabad: Pakistan v South Africa Taufiq Umar hit a patient 71 for the hosts |
Pakistan have won their first ever Test series against South Africa after batting out a draw in the second Test. Having won the first Test, and batting on a flat wicket, the hosts opted to play safe on the final day.
But the fall of three wickets in eight overs late on put pressure on Shoaib Malik and Moin Khan to bat to safety.
The seventh-wicket pair dealt with opening bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock, adding an unbeaten 33 with Moin finishing on nine and Malik 23.
Beginning the final day 8-0, needing 302 to win, the hosts made their intentions clear from the off as openers Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat scored just seven runs in the first hour.
 | South Africa made Pakistan sweat with three quick wickets |
Jacques Kallis had Farhat lbw offering no stroke for eight and Yasir Hameed managed 17 before he was caught hooking Ntini. Taufiq was joined by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in a 79-run partnership.
And even when the 22-year-old opener was caught attempting to slog spinner Robin Peterson the draw looked safe as Asim Kamal made 38.
But the youngster was edged an attempted cut off Paul Adams behind and the second new ball brought two wickets in successive deliveries to leave Pakistan battling.
Ntini's dismissal of Inzamam for 60 may have been contentious, the ball apparently heading down leg-side.
But Pollock then accounted for Abdul Razzaq with a brilliant inswinger, the all-rounder leaving a delivery that uprooted his off-stump. However, former skipper Moin joined the unusually patient Malik to steer the home side to the draw that clinched a series victory at the fourth attempt.
After their first victory against high-ranking opposition since 1997, Pakistan move up two places to fifth in the ICC world ranking, ahead of arch-rivals India for the first time in 16 months.