Pakistan lose four before tea in SA Test

CENTURION, South Africa (AFP) –

South Africa batsman AB de Villiers plays a shot during the second day of the third Test against Pakistan on February 23, 2013 at Super Sport Park in Centurion. De Villiers completed a century as South Africa made 409 all out on Saturday, before Pakistan made a promising start but but then lost three wickets in 13 balls.

Pakistan made their best start of the series but then lost three wickets in 13 balls on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

Pakistan were 91 for four at tea in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 409.

Imran Farhat, playing his first match of the series, and Mohammad Hafeez put on 46 for the first wicket, successfully seeing off the new ball threat of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.

But Pakistan were quickly back in perilous territory when Philander returned for his second spell as he and new cap Kyle Abbott took three wickets in successive overs.

Abbott followed up with a second wicket when he dismissed Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq shortly before tea.

Philander trapped Farhat leg before for 30 before Abbott, with his sixth ball in Test cricket, had Hafeez caught low down at gully for 18. Philander then bowled Azhar Ali for six, with the batsman edging a ball which kept low into his stumps.

Misbah fell to a superb diving catch by Alviro Petersen at second slip off the tall, strongly-built Abbott.

AB de Villiers earlier reached his 16th Test century – and his third against Pakistan. He went on to make 121 before being caught in the deep off left-arm opening bowler Rahat Ali, who finished with six for 127.

Rahat earlier dropped a straightforward catch at fine leg when De Villiers, on 107, top-edged a pull against Mohammad Irfan, who was the most challenging of an inexperienced pace trio but ended wicketkless.

Philander made a Test best score of 74 in helping De Villiers stretch their overnight partnership of 86 to 129 – a record seventh wicket stand for South Africa against Pakistan – before he was caught low down at first slip by Mohammad Hafeez off part-time bowler Younis Khan.

Pakistan were without Ehsan Adil, who suffered a calf injury on Friday.