Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: South Africa's Hashim Amla scored a fighting century but Pakistan still restricted the No. 1-ranked test team to 245-8 on the opening day of the first cricket test.
Amla hit 13 fours in his unbeaten 118 off 250 balls as South Africa's top order collapsed against pace and the lower middle-order fell to spinners.
Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (3-89), making his debut at the age of 34, bowled 17 wicketless overs before claiming three wickets in the last session.
The 7-foot-1-inch left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan (2-42) had struck with the new ball and reduced South Africa to 43-3 after captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat.
Amla rescued the Proteas by adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket with J.P. Duminy (57) before Babar struck in the last session.
