Smith gives South Africa big lead

SECOND TEST, Lahore, day three (stumps):
South Africa 357 & 154-2 v Pakistan 206

Graeme Smith put Pakistan in an unenviable position at stumps on day three of the second Test in Lahore.

Smith hit an unbeaten 75 as South Africa reached 154-2 to lead by 305.

It means Pakistan will need to chase a huge score to collect the victory that would see them square the series in Inzamam-ul-Haq's final Test.

Makhaya Ntini took a triple-wicket maiden to hasten the host team's decline, as they well all out for 206, Inzamam dismissed for just 14.

Pakistan began Wednesday's play on 140-4, but were rattled by two early wickets - the first falling in only the second over when Jacques Kallis induced Inzamam into a defensive edge to Mark Boucher.

Inzamam was left with an aggregate of 8,827 Test runs, still five behind Javed Miandad's Pakistan Test record, established in 1993.

Soon afterwards Shoaib Malik departed to Dale Steyn, caught at short-leg off bat and pad.

The double blow left Misbah-ul-Haq, 10 not out overnight, with a huge task on his hands.

He was able to cobble together a partnership with Abdur Rehman worth 39 - though Rehman was dropped by Boucher off Andre Nel before he scoring.

While Rehman got through to lunch, unbeaten on 24, Misbah eventually edged Ntini to Boucher on 41, before Umar Gul was trapped lbw first ball.

Danish Kaneria edged the hat-trick ball inches short of second slip, but gave Boucher an unprecedented 400th Test dismissal before the over was out.

In the first over after the interval, Paul Harris picked up the final wicket, of Mohammad Asif.

South Africa already had a lead of 151, and Smith looked in the mood to extend that as far as possible.

They did lose two wickets before tea - a leaden-footed Herschelle Gibbs edging Gul behind, and Amla playing all round a delivery from Rehman to be bowled.

But the dependable Kallis proved the perfect foil to a the more adventurous Smith in the final session.

Their unbroken 88-run stand left Pakistan with their backs firmly to the wall, and Smith eagerly targeting his first century of the tour.

Source: BBC Sport