Pakistan 99 and 198 for 4 (Misbah 60*, Shafiq 67*) trail South Africa 517 by 220 runs

 Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq kept South Africa's attack at bay to ensure Pakistan came through the fourth morning unscathed. The pair extended their fifth-wicket stand to 128 runs, both brought up half-centuries and South Africa's bowlers, despite the spinners finding turn, were subjected to a first wicketless session in the match.

Having taken the field with the news that Faf du Plessis would be fined 50% of his match fee for altering the condition of the ball, South Africa looked a little lethargic with Vernon Philander allowing the batsmen to leave comfortably and Dale Steyn starting with a full delivery on the pads to invite a flick through square leg.

Steyn began cranking it up, searching for reverse-swing, but it was Philander who caused the morning's only moment of anxiety for Pakistan. Asad Shafiq was given out in the fifth over after missing one which pitched on middle stump and hit him on the pad around leg stump. Rod Tucker raised the finger but Shafiq reviewed and replays showed the ball was missing leg stump by 4 millimeters.

The review came six balls into a 28-delivery scoreless run for Pakistan as they had to call on their ability to defend. Misbah had no problems ducking under the occasional bouncer and blocking and even Shafiq impressed, seeing out a tough period until the spinners were brought on.

Imran Tahir was handed the ball after nine overs had been bowled and immediately offered the batsmen some relief. Shafiq cut him through point to end the dot-ball streak. Morne Morkel bowled a consistently in the upper 140 kphs and beat Misbah twice but with pressure released at Tahir's end, Pakistan held firm.

Shafiq hit the shot of the morning, smacking a Tahir full toss over deep mid-wicket for six, before the nudging and nurdling continued. He brought up his half-century, a much-needed one in the circumstances and given the match situation, by guiding JP Duminy to third man off the 121st delivery he faced. Nine balls later, Misbah brought up the same milestone, also off 121 balls, in a similar face, steering Morkel to also extend the fifth-wicket stand to 100 runs.

Although the ball began to turn appreciably as the session went on, neither Tahir nor Duminy presented much of a threat. Shafiq punished them both when they dropped it short to capitalise on the few overs before the new ball.

South Africa took the second new ball as soon as it was available and Steyn immediately showed what he could do with it. His second delivery angled in to Shafiq and beat the outside edge as he tried to defend. Vernon Philander did not pose the same challenges but with the ball only four overs old, Pakistan's biggest test will continue in the second session.