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Defiant Younus guides Pakistan to safety

Younus Khan notched his 17th test hundred to guide Pakistan to a draw against South Africa on the final day of the first test on Tuesday.

Set 451 for victory after the visitors declared their second innings on 318 for two, Younus stroked an unbeaten 131 as Pakistan lost just one wicket on the fifth day to reach 343 for three.

Younus got solid support from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (76) as the pair put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 186.

Their partnership was a record for any Pakistan wicket against South Africa, eclipsing the 161-run second-wicket stand between Kamran Akmal and Younus scored in Lahore during the 2007/8 season.

“He is a world class player and he proved it today. It was a pleasure playing with him today,” Misbah told reporters.

South Africa began the day with high hopes of pushing for victory but did not help their chances by spilling three catches.

Younus was dropped twice, with his score on 16 and 70, while Misbah was put down at short leg when he had scored just eight.

Pakistan began the day on 109 for two with Azad Ali and Younus at the crease.

The duo stretched their third-wicket stand to 82 before Ali, on 63, fell when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Paul Harris with a ball that beat the batsman’s defensive prod to peg back his off stump.

South African captain Graeme Smith blamed the flat pitch for the draw at the Dubai international cricket stadium.

“The pitch got too slow and flat, making life difficult for bowlers,” said Smith.

“So we did not have much options to create chances. No one knew what to expect from this pitch. Maybe we lacked the killer punch today but its been a successful trip so far and we look forward to the next test in Abu Dhabi.”

The two teams will start the second, and final, match of the series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

FINAL SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1^st innings 380 (G. Smith 100, Hashim Amla 80, J. Kallis 73, A. Petersen 67; Umar Gul 3-100, Abdul Rehman 3-101)

Pakistan 1^st innings 248 (Mohammad Hafeez 60, Azhar Ali 56; M. Morkel 5-54, J. Botha 3-61)

South Africa 2^nd innings 318-2 decl (J. Kallis 135 not out, Hashim Amla 118)

Pakistan 2^nd innings

Mohammad Hafeez c Botha b Steyn 34

Taufiq Umer c Kallis b Botha 22

Ahar Ali b Harris 63

Younis Khan not out 131

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 76

Extras: (b6, lb4, nb2, w5) 17

Total: (for three wkts, 117 overs) 343

Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Hafeez), 2-75 (Umer), 3-157 (Ali)

Bowling: Steyn 22-6-82-1 (5w), Morkel 22-4-46-0 (1nb), Harris 31-10-57-1, Botha 38-7-138-1 (1nb), Kallis 4-2-10-0

Result: Match drawn

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI) and Daryl Harper (AUS)

TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)