Gary Kirsten hit his 19th Test century on Monday as South Africa set Pakistan a target of 302 runs to win the second Test.

With the hosts already 1-0 up in the two-match series, Pakistan ended the fourth day on eight without loss in six overs and needing another 294 runs.

South Africa had declared their second innings after tea on 371 for eight, Kirsten's sparkling 118 runs from 232 balls and in 316 minutes (11 fours and one six) bringing them back into the match.

Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat, who have posted three successive century stands for Pakistan in the series, held firm before bad light forced play to end four overs early and left the match intriguingly poised.

South Africa, who won a Test in Pakistan at the same ground in 1997 by bowling out the home side for 92 runs, will be spurred on by the knowledge that Pakistan's highest successful victory chase at the venue was just 188 for seven against Sri Lanka in 1991-92.

Pakistan lost here to the Sri Lankans in 1995-96 after being bowled out for 209 runs while chasing a victory target of 252.

It was Kirsten's second century on this ground and allowed South Africa to dictate terms on a sluggish day of cricket. Pakistan did not take the second new ball and bowled 127.3 overs with the same ball.

It slowed the scoring rate on a day when Pakistan's bowlers also struggled with fitness problems.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria did the bulk of the work with 27 consecutive overs, in contrast to veteran leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who bowled just four overs and Abdul Razzaq, who was not introduced until the 58th over of the day.

He responded by taking three wickets.

Struggling with a bout of 'flu, Razzaq rattled the Proteas with two wickets in two balls.

On the second and third balls of his fourth over of the day, he had Kirsten caught in the slips by Taufeeq Umar and then bowled Boucher.

Kirsten resumed in the morning on 27, with South Africa on 140 for three.

He played a flawless innings and shared valuable stands of 90 with Jacques Kallis (43, 113 balls, 3 fours), a new record for the fifth wicket against Pakistan, and 85 from 211 balls with Neil McKenzie (35) before lunch.

The 35-year-old left hander, who carried his bat for 100 not out at this ground in 1997, completed 1,000 runs on the subcontinent in 10 Tests against Pakistan and India.

During the day Taufeeq became the first Pakistani player to take six catches in a Test.

Scoreboard:

South Africa first innings: 278 (H.Gibbs 98, G.Kirsten 54; Shabbir Ahmed 4-74).

Pakistan first innings: 348 (Imran Farhat 128, Taufeeq Umar 68; S.Pollock 6-78)

South Africa second innings: (overnight 140-3)
G.Smith lbw Shabbir Ahmed 65
H.Gibbs lbw Danish Kaneria 20
B.Dippenaar lbw Shoaib Malik 21
G.Kirsten c Taufeeq Umar b Abdul Razzaq 118
N.McKenzie c Taufeeq Umar b Danish Kaneria 35
Jacques Kallis lbw b Abdul Razzaq 43
M.Boucher b Abdul Razzaq 0
S.Pollock not out 30
R.Peterson c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Shabbir Ahmed 17
P.Adams not out 9

Extras: (b-1 lb-7 w-2 nb-3) 13

Total: (for eight wickets declared, 127.3 overs) 371

Did not bat: Makhaya Ntini

Fall of wickets: 1-42 2-93 3-128 4-213 5-303 6-303 7-325 8-358

Bowling: Shabbir Ahmed 34.3-10-70-2 (1-nb, 2-w), Abdul Razzaq 18-3-70-3 (1-nb), Danish Kaneria 37-6-100-2, Shoaib Malik 26-5-70-1, Mushtaq Ahmed 12-3-53-0 (1-nb).

Pakistan second innings:
Taufeeq Umar not out 6
Imran Farhat not out 1

Extras: (1-lb) 1

Total: (for no wicket, 6 overs) 8

To Bat: Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria.

Bowling: Pollock 3-2-2-0, Ntini 3-2-5-0.