Azhar Ali defied the South African bowlers as Pakistan sought to avoid an innings defeat on the third day of the third and final Test at SuperSport Park on Sunday. Needing 253 to make South Africa bat again, Pakistan were 87 for two at lunch, still 166 runs behind, after a morning which yielded 73 runs in 28 overs. Azhar, who opened the batting in place of the injured Imran Farhat on Saturday evening, was unbeaten on 27, eking out over 110 balls.

(Updates at close) By Nick Said PRETORIA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Debutant paceman Kyle Abbott left Pakistan in tatters with seven first innings wickets as South Africa bowled out the tourists for 156 on the second day of the third test at Centurion on Saturday. Abbott took seven for 29, the best-ever test bowling figures at Centurion, to force Pakistan to follow-on after South Africa had amassed 409 in their first innings.

South African opening bowler Vernon Philander has built up a phenomenal record since his Test debut against Australia in November 2011 but his captain Graeme Smith is looking for more. "Vern has got the results but he is still a work in progress," said Smith. "I think he can get better." Philander, 27, has taken 87 wickets in 15 Tests at an average of 16.81 - a strike rate and an average unmatched by any other contemporary Test bowler. He has shot up the International Cricket Council rankings and is second only to his South African new ball partner, Dale Steyn.

Robin Peterson and Dale Steyn led a South African fightback which left the second Test against Pakistan evenly poised at the end of the third day at Newlands on Saturday. Pakistan were 100 for three at the close, a lead of 112. Peterson hit 84 to enable South Africa to get within 12 runs of Pakistan's first innings total of 338 and Steyn bowled at blistering pace to take two wickets as Pakistan lost their first three second innings wickets for 45 runs.