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Younus Khan hits ton as Pakistan draw with South Africa

First Test, Dubai (day five):
South Africa 380 & 318-2 dec drew with Pakistan 248 & 343-3
Match scorecard

Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq
Younus and Misbah created a new Pakistan record against South Africa

Former Pakistan skipper Younus Khan recorded his 17th Test century as the first Test of a two-match series with South Africa in Dubai ended in a draw.

Pakistan resumed on 109-2 in search of a distant 451 for victory, with Younus on 11, and he was dropped on 16 and 70.

But Younus shared an unbroken 186 with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (76), a Pakistan fourth-wicket record against South Africa, as their team closed on 343-3.

The second and final Test begins in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

In his first Test for 16 months, Younus reached three figures in style with a towering six over mid-wicket off spinner Johan Botha shortly before tea.

At the interval they needed 167 from 29 overs, but with 108 required from 13 and seven wickets intact they surprisingly agreed on a draw, to the disappointment of the crowd.

Had South Africa taken their chances it might have been a very different outcome, with Younus first dropped by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who failed to cling on a thick edge after the experienced batsman chased a wide ball from Dale Steyn in the fourth over of the morning.

In the confusion a run-out could easily have followed, with Younus looking for a run and sent back, fortunate that the throw missed the target.

Younus also survived an extremely difficult slip chance to Jacques Kallis which flew for his third boundary of an eventful Steyn over in which the new ball was taken.

The only wicket to fall was that of Azhar Ali (63), whose attractive fourth Test fifty - his second of the match - was ended by slow left-armer Paul Harris with a ball that turned appreciably and knocked back off-stump.

606: DEBATE
Silk

The tourists missed another opportunity with Misbah on eight when Hashim Amla spilled a catch diving forward at short-leg off Botha.

When Misbah launched the spinner for a brutal flat six over wide mid-on in the final over before tea it seemed as though Pakistan were still intent on pursuing victory.

But the first five overs of the final session produced only 11 runs and though Younus went on to hit two more sixes a draw was decided upon.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith admitted the dropped catches were expensive and said: "On a wicket like this, you've got to take those chances. Nobody does it on purpose. Those guys have been stalwarts for us for a long time.

"We knew it would be hard work. The wicket got slower and slower and it was difficult to get people out. Credit to Younus and Misbah.

"Hopefully the wicket in Abu Dhabi will have a little more life in it."

Younus, who turns 33 later this month, won the man-of-the-match award and said: "There wasn't much pressure. We just had to bat positively and play according to the merit of the ball.

"Azhar Ali played well in both innings, his future looks good. We counter-attacked and South Africa went on the back foot a little."



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