October 13, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 30, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 12: An excellent though rare show of defiance from the top and middle-order saved the second Test for Pakistan here against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday although at no point did the home side really attempted to go for a win which reflected their defensive mindset in the series.

Led by a superb hundred from Younis Khan (130), the Pakistani batsmen including Kamran Akmal (71), Mohammad Yousuf (63 not out) and Shoaib Malik (20 not out) stuck to their task on this tense fifth day to keep Graeme Smith’s men at bay who toiled desperately for another win here after their convincing triumph in Karachi last week.

Resuming the day at 108-1 and chasing a winning target of 457 in 125 overs, Pakistan finished the day at 316-4 in 110.3 overs at 4.00pm when the two captains gave their consent to the umpires to call-off play.

However, many critics and large number of fans at the ground were left disappointed by Pakistan’s defensive approach in the last two sessions of the game as they chose to settle for a draw, giving South Africa the two-match series 1-0.

Younis, who scored his second century in the series and his 14th in Test career, resumed the second innings at 48 with Kamran Akmal at 47. Both began cautiously as Pakistan added just 31 runs in the first 12 overs to take the score to 162-1 in 43 overs at the first drinks break.

Kamran was finally dismissed for a fine 71 when he was clean bowled by off-spinner Paul Harris. The wicket-keeper batsman added priceless 161 runs with Younis for the second-wicket, hitting eight boundaries.

Younis was then joined by the prolific Mohammad Yousuf and both went about their task in a steady but careful manner as Pakistan reached 200 in the 66th over.

During this course, Younis completed his century, laced with 14 boundaries off 180 balls. But both Younis and Yousuf clearly lacked the will to chase the tall target at any stage.

Pakistan went to lunch at 222-2 after an extended first session of three hours due to Friday prayers.

The hosts needed 235 more runs for victory in the remaining two sessions and that appeared likely with players like Inzamam, Malik and Misbah still waiting in the wings.

Alas, it was not to be. The two well set batsmen at the crease were bogged down by some accurate South African bowling which did not allow them to play freely.

Younis was the third man to depart for a personal score of 130, caught behind off Kallis while playing a lose shot. Younis’s departure brought in veteran Inzamam-ul-Haq - playing his last Test — to the crease amid a standing ovation from the spectators and players alike.

But Inzamam’s stay at the crease in his last Test innings lasted just five minutes in which he faced two deliveries.

On the first delivery, Inzamam hit Kallis to mid-wicket area for three-runs amid thunderous applause as expectations mounted for a memorable departing knock.

But in the next over, bowled by Harris, Inzamam for some inexplicable reason, went down the wicket in a bid to loft the off-spinner, misread the delivery completely and was stumped by Boucher.

The Multan-born player missed Javed Miandad’s highest run-getters record for Pakistan by just two runs and forced Pakistan to apply full brakes with the scoreboard showing 272-4.

Smith delayed the new ball for some time but finally took it in the 96th over.

However, that failed to make any further inroads into the Pakistan batting as Yousuf alongwith his captain Shoaib Malik defied the opposition in their stoic 44-run fifth-wicket stand before the umpires called-off play.

Yousuf remained unbeaten for 63, compiled off 156 balls with six boundaries. Shoaib was undefeated for 20 off 57 balls.

Later, a brief ceremony was held in Inzamam’s honour.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st INNS 357)

PAKISTAN (1st INNS 206)

SOUTH AFRICA (2nd INNS 305-4 decl)

PAKISTAN 2nd INNS (overnight 108-1)

Salman Butt c Pollock b Ntini 6

Kamran Akmal b Harris 71

Younis Khan c Boucher b Kallis 130

Mohammad Yousuf not out 63

Inzamam-ul-Haq st Boucher b Harris 3

Shoaib Malik not out 20

EXTRAS: (B-3, LB-14, NB-1, W-5) 23

TOTAL: (for 4 wkts, 107 overs) 316

FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-176, 3-265, 4-272

BOWLING: Steyn 15-2-56-0, Ntini 17-3-60-1, Kallis 15-0-48-1, Nel 20-1-75-0, Harris 40-14-60-2

UMPIRES: Mark Benson (ENG) and Simon Taufel (AUS)

TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghouri (PAK)

MATCH REFEREE: Alan Hurst (AUS)