SA rout Pakistan to level series

Dubai: South Africa kept their seven-year unbeaten away record intact with an innings and 92-run win over Pakistan in the second and final Test here on Saturday, squaring the two-match series 1-1.
It was a thorough and professional comeback by the world number one Test team after going down in last week’s first Test by seven wickets, but the Proteas out-batted and out-bowled Pakistan at Dubai stadium.
The win was completed with a day and 9.5 overs to spare when Pakistan were bowled out for 326 in their second innings after they conceded a big 418-run lead in the first innings.
But Pakistan did not go down without a fight as Asad Shafiq (130) notched his fourth Test hundred and, along with skipper Misbah-ul Haq (88), frustrated the South Africans during a 197-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir finished with 3-98 and took a total of eight wickets in the match, while part-time right-arm offbreak bowler Jean-Paul Duminy took Shafiq’s wicket on the way to career best figures of 3-67.
South African skipper Graeme Smith praised his team.
“It was an outstanding four days for us, to respond in these conditions where I don’t think Pakistan have lost before,” said Smith.
Smith’s counterpart Misbah rued their first innings failure.
“I am disappointed not to have won the series in these conditions,” said Misbah.
However, South Africa’s deserved win was tainted by a ball-tampering row yesterday, when Faf Du Plessis was caught on television cameras scratching the ball on the zip of his trousers. The on-field umpires Rod Tucker of Australia and Ian Gould of England along with television umpire Paul Reiffel warned Smith, changed the ball and gave five penalty runs to Pakistan. (AFP)