Opener Imran Farhat struck a stylish, maiden century to put Pakistan in command at the close of the second day of the second Test against South Africa on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Farhat, who shared in a record third successive first-wicket stand of a hundred for Pakistan with Taufeeq Umar, ended the day on 123 not out, having hit 17 fours in 216 balls.

That left the home side comfortably placed on 237 for two, just 41 behind South Africa's first innings of 278 all out.

Farhat and Umar, with 68, put on 137 runs to become the first Pakistan opening pair to score century partnerships in three successive Test innings.

The left-handed duo, who shared in stands of 109 and 134 in Pakistan's eight-wicket victory in the Lahore first Test, experienced few problems against South Africa's attack.

Both batsmen played and missed a couple of times early on against the new-ball duo of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, but they were generally in control despite the heavy overcast conditions.

Umar, who scored 111 and 63 in Lahore, raced to his eighth fifty in 17 Tests from 124 balls. However Farhat was more aggressive, reaching his half-century with eight boundaries in 77 balls.

PAKISTAN DOMINANCE

Although Umar fell six overs before tea, caught at mid-wicket after playing a loose shot against wrist-spinner Paul Adams, and Yasir Hameed was removed by Pollock for 21 in the final session, Pakistan dominated throughout the day.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith was forced to turn to his orthodox left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, in his third Test, as early as the 19th over, but the bowler was heavily punished by the Pakistan batsmen, conceding 40 runs in eight overs.

Farhat reached his maiden Test century when he played Adams behind square on the leg side, having struck 14 fours in 179 balls.

The Pakistan opener, playing his fifth Test, had produced knocks of 41 and 58 against South Africa in Lahore.

Earlier South Africa, who had resumed on their first innings total of 256 for nine, were bowled out after 8.1 overs of play in the morning, fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed finishing with figures of four for 74.

The last pair of Adams and Makhaya Ntini added 22 runs before Adams fell to leg spinner Danish Kaneria for 14.

Adams edged the ball to slip where Umar took his fourth catch of the innings. Ntini finished 16 not out.

Scoreboard:

South Africa first innings:
G.Smith c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Shabbir Ahmed 2
H.Gibbs lbw b Mushtaq Ahmed 98
B.Dippenaar c Taufeeq Umar b Shabbir Ahmed 4
J.Kallis c Taufeeq Umar b Danish Kaneria 10
G.Kirsten c Taufeeq Umar b Abdul Razzaq 54
N.McKenzie c Mushtaq Ahmed b Shabbir Ahmed 27
M.Boucher b Abdul Razzaq 27
S.Pollock run out 16
R.Peterson c sub (Misbah-ul-Haq) b Shabbir Ahmed 4
P.Adams c Taufeeq Umar b Danish Kaneria 14
M.Ntini not out 16

Extras: (lb-1 w-1 nb-4) 6

Total: (all out, 99.1 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-6 2-20 3-40 4-148 5-195 6-212 7-236 8-247 9-250

Bowling: Shabbir Ahmed 26-8-74-4 (w-1), Abdul Razzaq 22-4-68-2 (nb-4), Danish Kaneria 33.1-10-68-2, Shoaib Malik 5-0-19-0, Mushtaq Ahmed 13-1-48-1

Pakistan first innings:
Taufeeq Umar c Gibbs b Adams 68
Imran Farhat not out 123
Yasir Hameed c Gibbs b Pollock 21
Inzamam-ul-Haq not out 16

Extras: (b-2 lb-7) 9

Total: (for two wickets, 79 overs) 237

Fall of wickets: 1-137 2-178

To bat: Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria.

Bowling: Pollock 16-7-32-1, Ntini 17-3-40-0, Kallis 18-4-46-0, Peterson 8-1-40-0, Adams 17-2-54-1, Smith 3-0-16-0.