Pakistan was 153-3, having been set a stiff target of 353 for victory, when South Africa captain Jacques Kallis agreed to end the game at the drinks break before the scheduled close.

Earlier, South Africa had added another 30 runs at the cost of one wicket to its overnight score of 173-4 before leaving the opposition with 82 overs to go for victory.

Needing to score at a little over four an over, Pakistan’s openers were going strong but suffered some anxious moments in the second session when they lost three wickets at the lunch score of 66, including that of Younis Khan for a second ball duck.

Taufeeq Umar departed on the ninth ball after the lunch break to Johan Botha. Paul Harris struck twice in the next over as Hafeez and Khan left, all trapped leg before in the space of eight deliveries.

Pakistan then recovered with Misbah and Azhar grinding out the next 189 minutes to close the door.

Misbah led by example, as he did in the first Test when he scored 76. The captain struck six fours in his first 25 runs to blunt the hopes of the Proteas, who charged in with aggressive field settings.

“There was no specific plan but I wanted to capitalize on the loose deliveries only,” Misbah said. “Otherwise, the focus was clearly on staying at the wicket.” Azhar, on the other hand, ground the bowlers down, using 135 balls for his 28, missing the chance to hit a fourth successive half-century in this series.

Once Pakistan steadied the ship, Misbah reached his third straight half-century in 90 balls with nine boundaries. One pull shot hit Hashim Amla at short leg and the in-form South Africa batsman had to leave the field with for treatment on his left hand.

South Africa lost the services of captain Graeme Smith on Tuesday with a fractured thumb and he is a doubtful starter for the next series against top-ranked India from Dec. 16.

By drawing the series, second-place South Africa also dropped three ranking points, putting it further behind India.

Kallis, who was judged man of the series, gave credit to Pakistan but was critical of the pitches in both Tests.

“At a time when we are striving to keep the game alive, to play on such two wickets, I don’t think that is good for the game,” Kallis said. “The pleasing thing was the way we went about our business. We put Pakistan under pressure for most of the series. In bowling one or two sessions perhaps did not as good as we thought but the pitch played a part in that.

“But you have to give credit to Pakistan. I think we had them under pressure throughout but their youngsters came in and performed really well. Their cricket is looking positive.” Misbah said his side’s performances in the two drawn tests had made it feel like a victory.

“The pitches were flat but still the batsmen had to score runs,” he said. “The three wickets that fell today showed that we still needed to apply ourselves and the way youngsters like Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali have performed, it is definitely a win for us.”