Captain Shan Masood scored 145 as Pakistan continued to challenge hosts South Africa at tea on the fourth day of the second and final Test, when they reached 398 for the next five at Newlands, but were still behind by 23 runs on Monday .
Pakistan are effectively six wickets behind after batsman Saim Ayub fractured his ankle while playing on the first day and will hope to set some sort of target that their players can defend.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha are unbeaten on 31 and look to frustrate their hosts further in the final session.
This is already the highest score ever achieved by a visiting team in South Africa and it has been a tough slog for the home bowlers on a flat wicket that offers little help in terms of seam or spin.
After Pakistan started the day at 213 for one, South Africa took two wickets in the morning session, when Khurram Shahzad was caught by Keshav Maharaj at point off seamer Marco Jansen for 18.
Kagiso Rabada bowled Kamran Ghulam for 28, a delivery that clipped the wicket and crashed into the stump.
South Africa took the new ball shortly after lunch and that brought two more wickets, including the key scalp of Masood, who was caught leg before the wicket by 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka.
Saud Shakeel scored 23 before Aiden Markram caught him at second slip off Rabada.
The visitors are responding to South Africa’s huge first innings score of 615, which saw Ryan Rickelton (259), Temba Bavuma (106) and Verreynne (100) score centuries.
Pakistan were bowled out for 194 in their first innings and asked to move on, but led by Masood they are fighting much better.
South Africa have already claimed their place in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lords from June 11-15, and are looking to win this series 2-0 after claiming a tense first Test by two wickets in Pretoria.
