Opener Khurram Manzoor hit his maiden test century and propelled Pakistan to a 14-run lead against South Africa on the second day of the first cricket Test on Tuesday.
Manzoor's unblemished 131 not out off 244 balls with 14 fours guided Pakistan to 263-3 at stumps after South Africa was dismissed for 249 in its first innings.
Fellow opener Shan Masood scored 75 on debut, laying a solid platform of 135 runs with Manzoor as the Proteas struggled with their lines on a good batting pitch.
South Africa hit back briefly when Azhar Ali (11) was caught behind and Younis Khan (1) could not keep down Morne Morkel's short-pitched delivery in the last session.
But captain Misbah-ul-Haq batted confidently with Manzoor and put on a further 85 runs. Misbah was unbeaten on 44 off 77 balls and brought a perfect end to the day's play for Pakistan by driving Vernon Philander (1/31) to the square leg boundary off the last ball. "I think it's still even (the match), but hopefully if we can bat all day tomorrow we can post a good total and put them under pressure again," Masood said.
Manzoor showed no sign of nerves in the 90s and hit two successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Robin Petersen before he drove the spinner through covers and ran two to reach his century in just under five hours. He faced 198 balls and hit 11 fours.
Manzoor, playing his 10th test, celebrated his first ton by raising both arms and punching the air, and kneeling down and kissing the turf.
His and Masood's 135-run stand was Pakistan's first opening century partnership since January 2012 as South Africa could get just one wicket in the first two sessions.
"We negated that new ball, that was the key," Masood said. "We gave a good sort of foundation for the rest of the team to score more runs."
The left-handed Masood, who celebrated his 24th birthday when he was handed his test cap on Monday, was trapped lbw for 75 with eight boundaries off 140 balls, and tried to have his dismissal by offspinner JP Duminy reviewed but took too long asking.
Brief Scores
SA: 249 (Hashim Amla 118; Mohammad Irfan 3/44) trail Pakistan: 263/3 (Khurram Manzoor 131 no, Shan MAsood 75, Misbah 44 no; Morne Morkel 1/23) by 14 runs at stumps on Day 2.