Mohammad Rizwan hits maiden Test century for Pakistan but South Africa fight back in second Test

Home side set tourists unlikely victory target of 370 but unbeaten pair Markram and Van der Dussen take Proteas through to 127-1 at close

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  Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan is congratulated by teammate Nauman Ali after completing his century on Day 4 of the second Test against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 7. AFP

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  South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on his way to an unbeaten half-century. AP

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  South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen plays a shot on his way to 48 not out. EPA

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  Pakistan bowler Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Dean Elgar for 17. AFP

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  South Africa's Aiden Markram celebrates after reaching his half century. EPA

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  South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot on his way to 59 not out. AFP

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  Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan hit an unbeaten 115. AFP

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  Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan celebrates his century. AFP

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  Pakistan's Nauman Ali clubs a six on his way to 45. AP

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  South Africa's George Linde, right, celebrates with teammate Rassie van der Dussen after taking the wicket of Pakistan batsman Shaheen Afridi. AFP

Aggressive batting by Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen gave hope to South Africa’s bid to level the Test series against Pakistan on Sunday.

Pakistan set the tourists a challenging target of 370 runs on the fourth day of the second and final match as Markram (59) and van der Dussen (48) both stayed unbeaten and carried the Proteas to 127-1 at stumps.

South Africa, who lost the first Test by seven wickets but has not lost a series in cricket's longest form against Pakistan in 18 years, needs a further 243 runs on the last day on a seemingly batsman-friendly pitch.

"We need to build on this partnership as we know wickets can fall in clusters, like we lost in Karachi,” South Africa assistant coach Enoch Nkwe said. “The wicket is playing well so the guys need to apply to chase down the target.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (115) had earlier hit an unbeaten maiden Test century and shared a record-breaking 97-run ninth-wicket stand with Nauman Ali before Pakistan was bowled out for 298 for an overall lead of 369 runs.

The partnership bettered Pakistan’s previous record ninth-wicket stand against South Africa when Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar featured in a 80-run stand at Durban in 1998.

Left-arm spinner George Linde (5-64), playing in his third Test match, took a maiden five-wicket haul and Keshav Maharaj picked up 3-118.

But Markram and van der Dussen launched a counterattack against spinner Nauman Ali and Pakistan's two fast bowlers – Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf – by striking 17 boundaries between them.

"They came out with good intent and attacked us," Rizwan said. “Bowling is our strength and there is something for the spinners. We are still hopeful to win this match and the series.”