Harris removes Ali as Pakistan fight for draw

Left-arm spinner Paul Harris provided the only breakthrough for South Africa on Tuesday as Pakistan fought hard to stave off defeat at the Dubai Stadium on the fifth and final day of their first Test.

Azhar Ali, who scored 63 before he was bowled by Harris, and Younis Khan compiled a 82-run partnership for the third wicket, keeping Pakistan's hopes alive after they were set a big, 451-run target.

At lunch Pakistan, were 187-3, needing 264 more runs to win or to bat for 58 overs to draw the match.

Younis, playing his first Test since July last year, was unbeaten on a fighting 46 while skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 14 as South Africa failed to do much on a fifth-day wicket which had slow turn to offer.

With scant assistance from the pitch, South Africa also fell short on fielding as they dropped two crucial catches off Younis and Misbah, hurting their chances of taking the lead in the two-Test series.

Harris bowled Ali with a superb delivery which turned to beat the forward defensive push and hit the off-stump. Ali, who made 56 in the first innings, hit seven boundaries during his dour 150-ball knock.

Resuming at 109-2, Pakistan had a lucky escape in the fourth over of the day when Younis, on 16, edged paceman Dale Steyn but wicket-keeper Mark Boucher failed to hold a regulation catch towards his right.

Younis has so far hit three boundaries during his patient 112-ball knock.

Skipper Misbah was also lucky when Hashim Amla dropped a bat-pad edge off Johan Botha at short-leg when the batsman had made eight.

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