Pakistan were 0-77 at lunch after bowling out South Africa early on the second day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Khurram Manzoor was unbeaten on 41, with debutant Shan Masood on a confident 36 as Pakistan trailed South Africa’s first innings total of 249 by 172 runs.

Both Pakistani openers negotiated a four-pronged South African pace attack without any trouble on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch which had little on offer for the fast bowlers.

Khurram, playing his 10th Test, has so far hit four boundaries while Masood, a prolific scorer in Pakistan’s domestic matches, has also hit as many boundaries.

It is Pakistan’s first half-century opening stand in 13 innings as they have long struggled to find a reliable opening pair. The Masood-Khurram pairing is Pakistan’s sixth in the past seven Tests.

Earlier, Mohammad Irfan (3-44) dismissed centurion Hashim Amla off the second ball of the day after South Africa had resumed at 8-245.

Amla, who made 118, edged a sharp Irfan delivery straight into the hands of slip where Younis Khan held a regulation catch. He hit 13 boundaries off 252 balls and anchored the South African innings on Monday.

With the catch Younis equalled Javed Miandad’s all-time Test catches record for Pakistan with 93. Miandad reached the tally in 124 Tests but Younis was quicker in 85 matches.

Debutant left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar took 3-89 while Saeed Ajmal had figures of 2-59.