Third Test evenly balanced

South Africa were bowled out for 183 in the morning session on day two of the third and deciding Test with Pakistan to take a 26-run first-innings lead over the tourists.

On Friday the hosts had put themselves in an excellent position by bowling out the tourists for 157 but their batsmen failed to press home the advantage.

In the end they were indebted to some belligerent hitting from wicketkeeper Mark Boucher who finished 40 not out and helped them establish a lead, albeit a slender one.

The Proteas had resumed on 131 for five and it did not take Pakistan long to make inroads into their middle and lower order.

Only two runs were added before Ashwell Prince departed to a googly from Danish Kaneria with the ball looping up and being held by Yasir Hameed.

Umpire Steve Bucknor, even by his painstaking standards, took a long time before raising his finger to rule that Prince had got an edge.

Prince had made 19 and next to depart was nightwatchman Paul Harris without further addition to the total. Harris had made only a single before edging Mohammad Asif to Younis Khan in the slips.

Andrew Hall came in to join Boucher but did not last long, departing for four as he edged Kaneria to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for four.

Boucher then went on a run spree with some bold hitting but the next blow was a self-inflicted one with Dale Steyn run out by Younis with a direct hit from gully. Steyn had made only three in a partnership that yielded 43 priceless runs.

Last man Makhaya Ntini then went for a duck when Mohammad Sami's yorker rapped him on the pads. Boucher hit five fours and two sixes in his 40 which came off only 36 balls and which enabled the Proteas to take a slender lead.