16 Nov 2010

Pakistan have to score record total for win in Dubai

5:57 am on 16 November 2010

South Africa have set Pakistan a world-record chase to win the first cricket Test in Dubai following magnificent centuries from Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla on the 4th day.

Pakistan are 109 for 2 with Azhar Ali on 37 and Younis Khan on 11, still needing to bat out 90 overs for a draw or score a challenging 342 on a deteriorating Dubai Stadium pitch.

Set 451 to win, Pakistan lost openers Mohammad Hafeez (34) and Taufiq Umer (22) after both gave their team a confident 41-run start.

The best run-chase in all Tests is 418 for 7, achieved by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan's successful target chase stands at 315 for 9, also against Aussies, at Karachi in 1994.

Pakistan can take heart from the fact they held South Africa to a draw in Lahore three years ago by scoring 316 for 4, but on a disheartening note they have never scored 400 runs in the fourth innings of a Test.

Earlier, Kallis made 135 and Amla 118 as Pakistan, left a bowler short after paceman Wahab Riaz's injury on the first day, toiled hard against the two right-handed batsmen before Graeme Smith declared the second innings at 318 for 2.