Second Test, Abu Dhabi (day two):
South Africa 584-9 dec v Pakistan 59-1
Match scorecard

De Villiers was willing to sacrifice his chance at the record

AB de Villiers hit a new South African Test record 278 not out as Pakistan continued to struggle on day two of the second Test in Abu Dhabi.

The 26-year-old hit 23 fours and six sixes in his 618-minute innings as he passed captain Graeme Smith's 277, set against England in Birmingham in 2003.

Smith allowed De Villers to set the new benchmark before declaring on 584-9.

Pakistan - needing 326 to avoid the follow-on - lost opener Mohammad Hafeez in the first over on the way to 59-1.

De Villiers paid tribute to skipper Smith for his decision.

"It was very special and I dedicate that knock to Graeme for allowing me to go on. It tells you a lot about his captaincy and his class as a captain, " the batsman said.

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"I actually begged him at tea (when De Villiers was on 263) just to declare and get on with it because we needed a few wickets at the end of today.

"I did say it's probably best for the team if we declare now and he said, 'There is no way I'm declaring, you go and get that record, you deserve it'."

Earlier, Pakistan's bowlers had struggled on the Abu Dhabi pitch after South Africa had resumed their innings on 311-5.

The pick of the attack was Kuwait-born debutant Tanvir Ahmed, who took two more wickets on the day to take his first innings figures to 6-120.

He struck first when his brilliant inswinger clean bowled Mark Boucher (45) before Johan Botha (12) had his off stump removed following poorly executed swipe at Abdur Rehman's delivery.

De Villiers had reached 150 before his partner at the crease, Dale Steyn (27), found Mohammad Hafeez off the spin of Rehman.

Paul Harris (19), who smashed Rehman for six, was next to fall when he was caught behind as Tanvir claimed his sixth wicket.

Three boundaries off the bat of Morne Morkel during one Tanvir over and two sixes by De Villiers off Rehman took South Africa past the 500 mark.

Another six from De Villiers saw him pass 250 before he hit an Umar Gul ball through midwicket to achieve the record total.

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