Daijiworld Media Network

Abu Dhabi, Oct 16 : Hello and welcome for the third day's play. The first two days saw a hundred each from Hashim Amla and Khurram Manzoor. Will we get to see another one today? Pakistan are placed comfortably and they also have a slender lead as well. The South Africans need to do something special to keep the hosts quiet on what is a very crucial day for this Test match. The pitch is not offering much to the bowlers apart from the new ball. If Pakistan manage to get a healthy lead, then the Proteas will be under serious pressure to face the likes of Ajmal and Babar.

Pitch Report - Day 3: 'This wicket is not deteriorating at all. It is nice and hard. Nothing much for the seamers and the batsmen will love it. There are a few bowlers' footmarks. But the patch is not that big and for me it's a batsman's day today,' reckons Kepler Wessels.

Day 2:  Their main spinner Peterson did not bowl well as he looked out of sorts. He bowled too many long hops and was carted away for runs. Smith rotated his bowlers and used seven of them but to no avail. Pakistan will have to thank their opening pair as they added 135 runs which is the highest for them in the last 22 innings.

Pakistani batsmen have continued the good work done by their bowlers. They got off to a good start as Manzoor and Masood played some sensible cricket. Masood was good as he got to his maiden Test fifty in his debut innings. It was a well compiled innings by the young man. Manzoor was outstanding as he was rock solid and choose the deliveries to go after. He concentrated hard and got to his maiden Test hundred. South African bowlers bowled quite a few short deliveries and did not get much help from the wicket.