CAPE TOWN, Jan 1: Road-weary Pakistan will look to salvage the series and what remains of their shattered pride when the second and final Test against South Africa starts here on Thursday.

Waqar Younis’s team have experienced the full gamut of emotions on their roller-coaster tour of southern Africa.

They strode unchallenged through Zimbabwe, winning both Test matches and all five One-day Internationals, Inzamam-ul-Haq in the process becoming the second Pakistani to reach 6,000 Test runs while Yousuf Youhana enjoyed a spell as the most prolific one-day batsman in the world.

Waqar, meanwhile, left Zimbabwe needing one wicket to join compatriot Wasim Akram as the only bowlers to take 400 wickets in One-day Internationals.

He had since reached that mark but has had little else to celebrate. In South Africa, Pakistan were stopped in their tracks by a team that has regained their composure following the mauling they were dealt by Australia last season.

Under new coach Eric Simons and guided by a fresh selection panel led by Omar Henry, South Africa rediscovered the uncompromising approach and solid basics that had made them the closest rivals to the mighty Australians in recent seasons.

Shaun Pollock, never the most natural of captains, made significant progress towards coming to terms with his role. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini matured into a consistent threat and, together with steadily developing opening batsman Graeme Smith, gave South Africa a glimpse of a future beyond veterans Allan Donald and Gary Kirsten.

South Africa’s resurgence was sealed when they bounced back from losing the second One-day International against Pakistan to win the series 4-1.

Teams (from):

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Mornantau Hayward, Andrew Hall, Monde Zondeki.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Taufiq Umar, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Zahid, Shahid Afridi, Hasan Raza, Fazle Akbar.