Port Elizabeth, January 22:

Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal took Pakistan to a series-levelling win on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa on Monday. The pair shared an unbeaten stand of 99 as they won by five wickets with more than a day to spare.

Younis (67 not out) and Akmal (57 not out) rescued Pakistan from a precarious 92-5. Younis played a solid innings, while Akmal batted aggressively as South Africa’s hopes of a fourth successive Test win receded.

Akmal played some stirring strokes as he hurried to his half-century off 61 balls. What had been a tense contest ended shortly before tea as Younis and Akmal took their team to victory with a flurry of strokes.

The victory was set up on the first day when South Africa were bowled out for 124, their lowest score against Pakistan. Man of the match Inzamam-ul-Haq then made an unbeaten 92 to take Pakistan to a first innings lead of 141. But South African hopes were raised when Pakistan, needing 191 to win, were three down with only 48 runs scored.

Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf put on 39 before Pakistan had another wobble when Yousuf (18) was caught at gully off Shaun Pollock and captain Inzamam (1) was leg before off Ntini.

Pakistan made a brisk start to the day with Andre Nel conceding 21 runs in three overs. But a switch of ends for Ntini, who took over from Nel, and the introduction of the accurate Shaun Pollock brought a dramatic change. With his fourth ball, Ntini dismissed the left-handed Imran Farhat. Two overs later new batsman Yasir Hameed was run out.

Mohammad Hafeez (32) was third out when he played across the line against Pollock and was given out leg before.

SCOREBOARD:

SOUTH AFRICA — 1st Innings: 124

PAKISTAN — 1st Innings: 265

SOUTH AFRICA — 2nd Innings: 331

PAKISTAN — 2nd Innings (overnight: 8-0)

M Hafeez lbw b Pollock 32

I Farhat c Kallis b Ntini 7

Y Hameed run out 6

Y Khan not out 67

M Yousuf c Gibbs b Pollock 18

Inzamam lbw b Ntini 1

K Akmal not out 57

Extras: 3 (lb1, nb1, w1)

Total: 191/5

FoW: 1-29, 2-35, 3-48, 4-87, 5-92

South Africa bowling: Nel 14-2-63-0, Ntini 19-6-50-2, Pollock 13-4-47-2, Kallis 6-0-17-0, Harris 5.3-0-13-0