South Africa set sights on series win today

Pakistan wicket keeper Kamran Akmal(C) catches the ball, sending out South Africa Boeta Dippenaara (R) during the second day of the third Test match at Newlands stadium in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday. AFP

South Africa need 125 more to win the series against Pakistan after ending day two of the third Test on 36-2. Mark Boucher's fine unbeaten 40 lifted their total to 183 after they slumped from 131-5 to 140-8 in the morning.

Dale Steyn (3-47) helped reduce the visitors to 121-7 before Mohammad Sami (31) and Shahid Nazir (27) added 55. The drama was not over and Danish Kaneria struck twice late on but, with Graeme Smith (33) batting fluently, the Proteas are slight favourites to win. It did not look that way when the tourists struck three early blows in the first session.

Ashwell Prince was unlucky to be adjudged caught at silly mid-off when he appeared to get no touch to a Danish Kaneria googly and the ball deflected off wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal's gloves. But Paul Harris and Andrew Hall were the first in a long line of players to perish driving loosely outside off-stump. Boucher showed batting was far from impossible when he thrashed three fours and a massive six over long-on in a Mohammad Asif over costing 22 runs.

Pakistan's top order failed dismally, however, and Steyn profited to have Mohammad Hafeez caught at backward point and trap Imran Farhat lbw with one that nipped back into the left-hander. - BBC