Dale Steyn scripts South African victory

South Africa led by 159 runs after the first innings, and Jacques Kallis hit successive centuries in the second innings as the tourists declared at 264/7 for an overall lead of 423 runs.

Younis Khan made an aggressive attempt to have a shot at the target, scoring 126 off 160 balls. But once Steyn clean bowled Khan before lunch on the last day, Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 66 runs in the afternoon session.

Captain Shoaib Malik (30) put up a fight in his first Test as captain before being the last man dismissed. South African players celebrated when Andre Nel caught a skied shot as Malik top edged Makhaya Ntini for his only wicket of the match. It was only the second time Pakistan had lost at the National Stadium in 40 Tests, with the first one being against England seven years ago. Resuming at the overnight score of 146-3, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Mohammad Asif (6) in the sixth over of the morning.

Asif tried to fend Andre Nel’s short delivery but lobbed the ball to Hashim Amla at forward short leg, giving the South Africa pacer his 100th Test wicket. Khan, 93 overnight, raced to his 13th Test century off 108 balls with his 15th boundary and hit three more fours in his nearly four-hour stay at the wicket.

Steyn finally broke through Khan’s defences with a delivery that kept low and hit off stump. South Africa struck immediately after lunch when Nel trapped Misbah-ul Haq (23) lbw, then Mark Boucher, who broke the world record for wicketkeeper dismissals in the first innings, caught Kamran Akmal (9) at the second attempt off the bowling of Paul Harris.

The second Test begins at Lahore from October 8.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st innings: 450

Pakistan 1st innings: 291

South Africa 2nd innings: 264/7 dec

Pakistan 2nd innings: Y Khan b Steyn 126, M Asif c Amla b Nel 6, M Haq lbw Nel 23, S Malik c Nel b Ntini 30, K Akmal b Boucher b Harris 9, A Rehman lbw Steyn 0, U Gul c Nel b Steyn 8, D Kaneria not out 0

Extras (b8, lb4, nb1): 13; Total (all out, 84.5 overs): 263

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-20, 3-134, 4-161, 5-197, 6-230, 7-239, 8-249, 9-257

Bowling: Ntini 12.5-4-34-1, Steyn 15-3-56-5, Nel 19-5-59-2, Harris 30-8-58-2, Smith 3-0-33-0, Kallis 4-3-4-0, Amla 1-0-7-0