Abu Dhabi: Abdul Rahman's maiden Test half century and his three-wicket haul may have denied the South Africans a chance to push for victory against Pakistan Wednesday and the Second Test here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium seems to be heading for a draw.
South Africa finished the day on 173 for 4, and lead by 323 runs and have 90 overs on the final day Wednesday to set Pakistan a target and then bowl them out.
Abdul Rahman offered severe resistance to compile his first Test half-century and then put the brakes on the Proteas batting that will miss skipper Graeme Smith, out for three weeks or more with a fractured finger.
Earlier, Pakistan averted the follow-on and reached 434 to continue their resurgence in Test cricket.
The day started on a disastrous note when Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed first ball, leg before to Steyn. But South Africa, whose tail denied the Pakistani bowlers on Monday, were given a taste of their own medicine when they were subjected to the same fate by the Pakistani tail.
No follow on
With Misbah's departure, South Africa would have fancied their chances of enforcing the follow on but Abdul Rahman first put on a valuable 36 runs for the 8th wicket with Umar Gul (21).
Taking on the bowlers, Rahman began to stroke boundaries with ease while giving him company was debutant Tanveer Ahmad, a wicket off his very first over and his 6-wicket haul giving him the confidence to show his batting skills. Together they took Pakistan past the danger mark and it was only after lunch that Morne Morkel dismissed Ahmad but not before he had made 30 with six fours.
By then Pakistan had crossed 400 for the first time this year and when Abdul Rahman was adjudged leg-before wicket to Botha, the lanky spinner had crossed his maiden Test 50 and his 150-minute stay facing 139 balls did cost South Africa dear.
With a 150-run lead, it was Hashim Amla who accompanied Andrew Peterson to open the innings as Smith was nursing a swollen finger. Amla's first boundary made him the third batsmen after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to cross 1000 runs in this calendar year.
Amla and Peterson put on 81 runs and just when it looked like South Africa would press the pedal on their scoring, Abdul Rahman struck. Peterson, Amla and first innings hero A.B. de Villiers fell to the left-arm spinner. South Africa were 173 for 4 at stumps, going into the last day's play with a lead of 323 runs.
