A confident Pakistan will look to their spinners to sweep the two-match series against a depleted South Africa when the second and final Test starts on Wednesday in Dubai.
Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar shared 11 wickets to guide Pakistan to a seven-wicket win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, only their fourth in 22 Tests against South Africa.
Pacemen Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan took four wickets apiece as a formidable South African batting line-up slumped to 249 and 232, with only Hashim Amla (118) and AB de Villiers (90) showing resistance.
Pakistan were led by opener Khurram Manzoor’s 146 – the highest by a Pakistani in a Test against South Africa – and 100 by captain Misbah-ul Haq to post a 442-run total.
Amla and Dale Steyn, respectively the world’s top Test batsman and bowler, might not be available for the 2nd Test. Amla has returned home for the birth of his child while Steyn is nursing a hamstring injury.
Left-hander Dean Elgar is due to replace Amla while Rory Kleinveldt is likely to fill in for Steyn.
South African captain Graeme Smith expressed confidence his team could bounce back.
“We haven’t been in this position too often,” said Smith. “And with the standards that we set ourselves, we should have the ability to bounce back.
“The motivation is there. We are really motivated to win the next Test match. That’s got to be our ultimate goal. We have to focus on making sure our plans are better.”
Pakistan have a settled squad and will not tinker with the winning combination, but Misbah warned against complacency.
“We are really playing the top side in the world, so our focus is on the next game,” said Misbah, aiming to add to Pakistan’s only series win over South Africa back in 2003.
Misbah denied he wanted a batting track in Dubai to draw the Test.
“We want a result, no doubt we want to exploit our home advantage and we will do that, but we want a result.
“Whenever you have negative thoughts in your mind it won’t give you good results. We are positive about that, we want a result no matter whatever happens, if we win or lose, it doesn’t matter.”