LAHORE: It did not seem as if Pakistan would be able to save follow-on after losing Misbah-ul-Haq on the first ball of day four but Abdur Rehman batted determinedly, helped by the lower order especially debutant Tanvir Ahmed, to ensure that South Africa bat again.
After Misbah was removed by Dale Steyn without adding to his overnight score of 77, Pakistan were under threat of being forced to follow on. However Abdur Rehman batted responsibly while Umar Gul and Tanvir gave him good support as Pakistan first avoided follow on and then went past 400 something which they hadn’t done in their last 10 Tests. Abdur Rehman played with guts hitting eight fours and a six as he reached his maiden Test fifty.
He was the last man out for 60 as Pakistan were all out for 434 soon after lunch. South Africa gained a vital lead of 150 runs. Steyn was the most successful South African bowler with 4-98 while Paul Harris took 3-98. With four and a half sessions left to play a result looked unlikely as the pitch was getting slower and slower with almost no assistance for the bowlers. Second time round South Africans started their innings at a rapid rate. Graeme Smith didn’t open the innings as he was nursing a thumb injury.
Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen stroked the ball well as runs came at a good rate with South Africans aiming to add to their healthy lead reaching 50 in the 9th over.
Abdur Rehman carried on his wonderful day removing the South African top three and turning the ball just the right bit despite a placid pitch. Petersen went for 35 just before tea while Hashim Amla was out to a gem of a delivery which beat the classy batsman all ends up as he went for a rapid 62.
And then the first innings double centurion AB de Villiers was trapped leg before by Abdur Rehman with a straighter one for 25. Despite these three strikes by Abdur Rehman South Africans kept on building their lead steadily and ended the day at 173 for 4 with an overall lead of 323 runs. South African batsmen batted at a good rate in the second innings showing their intention of going for a win but with the pitch not deteriorating as much they would have liked and time running out South Africans might well have to settle for a draw on the final day.
Abdur Rehman ended the day with fine figures of 3-73 off 21 overs, his heroics on day four might well have saved Pakistan the match and the series.
Star of the daY: Abdur Rehman was Pakistan’s man on day four. First he batted dependably to help Pakistan avoid follow on. The southpaw rotated the strike well and also stroked occasional boundaries on the way. He made a defiant 60 as South Africa’s chances of winning the Test looked grim. In Proteas’ second innings, Abdur Rehman plucked out three wickets with his nifty left-arm spin bowling.
The ball with which he removed Hashim Amla was a gem as it pitched on the leg and took the off stump. He ended the day with fine figures of 3-73.
Moments that Mattered: With Misbah-ul-Haq out on the first ball of the day Pakistan were in danger of being forced to follow on. But Abdur Rehman held up the Proteas with his determined batting.
He shared stands of 36 with Umar Gul (21), 59 with debutant Tanvir Ahmed (30) and 22 with Mohammad Sami (2) to cap a top quality lower order rearguard effort as Pakistan avoided the follow on. The last three wickets added 117 runs for Pakistan to deflate the South African spirits and their aims of winning the Test and series.
