Peterson leads Proteas fightback

Azhar Ali ended the day unbeaten on 45
16 February 2013

Pakistan ended day three of an evenly-poised second Test 112 runs ahead of South Africa with seven second-innings wickets intact.

South Africa recovered from 139 for five overnight to 326, a deficit of 12, after Robin Peterson made 84 to add to AB de Villiers' 61.

Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander then each struck in their first over to leave Pakistan seven for two but Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq led the fightback, putting on 55 to see them to 100 for three.

Saeed Ajmal had ripped through South Africa's top order on Friday and when Dean Elgar (23) edged a loose drive straight to Younus Khan at slip, the spinner had taken all six wickets to fall.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan eventually chipped in with three for 86 on his debut and Ajmal finished with six for 96. Mohammad Hafeez dismissed Peterson - the last wicket to fall.

Hafeez was then trapped lbw by Steyn with the second ball of Pakistan's second innings, and opening partner Nasir Jamshed also failed to trouble the scorers before being pinned in front by Philander.

Azhar and Younus took the score on to 45 before the latter (14) slashed at a wider delivery from Steyn and chopped it on to his stumps.

Azhar and Misbah set about building a patient partnership, which had reached just 10 in 9.2 overs when an injury to Morne Morkel brought forward the drinks break. The paceman limped off, with the over completed by Jacques Kallis.

Misbah's boundary off Kallis brought the first runs in 35 balls and he then broke the shackles to twice loft Peterson down the ground for six.

A third maximum followed with an over remaining, bringing up the 50 partnership and Pakistan's hundred, and he ended the day on 36 not out with Azhar five runs away from a half-century.

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