Dubai: Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haq earned Pakistan a creditable draw in the first Test on the final day at the Dubai Sports City International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a target of 451 runs, with Pakistan needing 108 runs to win and 14 overs still remaining in the match, both captains shook hands and agreed for a draw at the score on 343 for 3.
It looked like Khan and Haq, who steered the match to safety, did not want to risk going for the runs and the decision shocked the spectators who had just finished applauding Khan's fourth six off Johan Botha.
Khan remained unbeaten on 131 studded with nine boundaries and four sixes. Haq was unconquered on 76 with eight boundaries and a six. The pair put on a record fourth wicket partnership of 186 runs in 57 overs. It was the best partnership by both teams for this wicket. It also bettered Pakistan's highest second innings total of 341 for 9 against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1987-88.
Earlier, Azhar Ali and Khan withstood the tight South African bowling for 80 minutes and put on 82 runs in 27.5 overs. Ali completed his second half century of the match and batted with authority to hit 63 runs studded with seven boundaries. At the score on 157, left arm spinner Paul Harris produced a beauty to clean bowl Ali. Pakistan required another 264 runs with seven wickets in hand at this stage.
The experienced Khan played with caution but at his score on 16, he edged Dale Steyn but wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who dived to his right, spilled the catch.
Skipper Misbah Ul Haq, who joined Khan, also escaped being caught by a diving Hashim Amla at short leg off Botha. The ball bounced more than Haq expected as he went forward at his score on 10.
Khan swept Botha to square leg to bring in his half century in 126 balls. In the very next over from Botha, Khan hit a six over long on and followed it up with a boundary past fine leg. It was a brilliant comeback knock to Test cricket from Khan who had played his last Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2009.
Incidentally, it was also an innings from a man whom the Pakistan Cricket Board had banned for an indefinite period in March and he displayed his form and hunger for runs once again.
Soon after Khan hit Steyn for two successive boundaries, South Africa took the new ball in the 83rd over. Steyn forced Khan on 70 to edge the second delivery with the new ball past a diving Kallis who got his fingers to it at second slip.
With 47 overs remaining in the day and 217 runs to get it looked like anybody's game.
Khan raced to his century by hitting Botha for a six to mid wicket. Haq who began slowly settled down to play some lovely shots. He picked the gaps with perfection and reached his half century with a six off Botha.
Khan stepped out to hit Botha for his third six to steer Pakistan past the 300-run mark. When Haq agreed for a draw which seemed like a sudden end to an entertaining and exciting cricket.
