ABU DHABI - Wily spinner Saeed Ajmal took four wickets to fire Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over world number one South Africa in the first test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The off-spinner (4-74) was superbly supported by left-arm paceman Junaid Khan (3-57) and fellow spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2-51) as South Africa collapsed to 232 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
That left Pakistan to score 40 runs for their overall fourth win over South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Pakistan made heavy weather of the small target, losing openers Shan Masood (nought), Azhar Ali (three) and Khurram Manzoor (four) in the space of seven runs by the fourth over.
Vernon Philander took 2-11 while Dale Steyn had 1-7.
Senior batsmen Younis Khan (28) and Misbah-ul Haq (nine) were left to see off the target with Pakistan captain Misbah deservedly hitting the winning six.
AB de Villiers hit a fighting 90 to help South Africa avoid an innings defeat while Robin Peterson scored a valiant 47 not out but it only delayed Pakistan's win.
This was Pakistan's fourth win over South Africa in 22 tests and broke South Africa's 15-test unbeaten run since losing to Sri Lanka in Durban in December 2011.
De Villiers added an invaluable 57 for the eighth wicket with Peterson to carry the match into the final session. He hit seven boundaries and a six in a defiant innings before he miscued a drive off paceman Junaid Khan with just three to avoid an innings defeat.
Peterson added 42 for the ninth wicket with Vernon Philander (10). But Ajmal removed Philander and Morne Morkel in the same over to wrap up the innings.
Pakistan's bowlers had grabbed two wickets in the morning session to boost their chances on a pitch offering good turn after South Africa resumed at 72-4, trailing by a huge 121 runs.
The second and final test will be played in Dubai from October 23. - Sapa-AFP
Ajmal spins Pakistan to a win
ABU DHABI - Wily spinner Saeed Ajmal took four wickets to fire Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over world number one South Africa in the first test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The off-spinner (4-74) was superbly supported by left-arm paceman Junaid Khan (3-57) and fellow spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2-51) as South Africa collapsed to 232 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
That left Pakistan to score 40 runs for their overall fourth win over South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Pakistan made heavy weather of the small target, losing openers Shan Masood (nought), Azhar Ali (three) and Khurram Manzoor (four) in the space of seven runs by the fourth over.
Vernon Philander took 2-11 while Dale Steyn had 1-7.
Senior batsmen Younis Khan (28) and Misbah-ul Haq (nine) were left to see off the target with Pakistan captain Misbah deservedly hitting the winning six.
AB de Villiers hit a fighting 90 to help South Africa avoid an innings defeat while Robin Peterson scored a valiant 47 not out but it only delayed Pakistan's win.
This was Pakistan's fourth win over South Africa in 22 tests and broke South Africa's 15-test unbeaten run since losing to Sri Lanka in Durban in December 2011.
De Villiers added an invaluable 57 for the eighth wicket with Peterson to carry the match into the final session. He hit seven boundaries and a six in a defiant innings before he miscued a drive off paceman Junaid Khan with just three to avoid an innings defeat.
Peterson added 42 for the ninth wicket with Vernon Philander (10). But Ajmal removed Philander and Morne Morkel in the same over to wrap up the innings.
Pakistan's bowlers had grabbed two wickets in the morning session to boost their chances on a pitch offering good turn after South Africa resumed at 72-4, trailing by a huge 121 runs.
The second and final test will be played in Dubai from October 23. - Sapa-AFP
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