RAWALPINDI: Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen defied the Pakistani bowlers to post an unbroken 94-run stand for the second wicket at the end of day four, giving South Africa hope of a successful chase.
Chasing a daunting 370-run target, South Africa finished the fourth day on 127-1, with Markram on 59 and Dussen unbeaten on 48. The tourists will need another 243 runs to level the series on Monday.
Earlier, Pakistan finished with a score of 298 in their second innings, following a scintillating maiden hundred by wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan who finished on 115 not out.
Opener Dean Elgar started South Africa’s chase with a positive approach but soon succumbed to the bowling of pacer Shaheen Shah, caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, after scoring just 17 runs off 24 deliveries.
Markram scored a measured 59-run knock off 131 deliveries while Dussen proved capable of defying Pakistan with an unbeaten knock of 48 runs off 94 deliveries.
Earlier, South Africa started the day in need of quick wickets and spinner Keshav Maharaj quickly made his mark, picking up the wicket of tailender Hasan Ali early.
Shah added 13 valuable runs to his tally before finally being removed by all-rounder George Linde. The 53-run partnership off 106 deliveries between Rizwan and Shah however helped Pakistan stablilise the innings and push for a massive total.
The solid Rizwan was then joined by tailender Nauman Ali and the duo wreaked havoc on the South African attack with a monumental partnership of 97 runs off 150 deliveries.
Nauman Ali eventually fell to pacer Kagiso Rabada after scoring 45 runs off 78 deliveries. Tailender Shaheen Shah could not stick around for a long period and was bowled by all-rounder George Linde.
