Hashim Amla scored his 40th Test fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar scored 63 not out and 50 respectively as South Africa cruised to a six-wicket win over Pakistan on the third day of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.

Starting off the day chasing 149 to win, South Africa got off to an awful start as opener Aiden Markram was given out lbw off the bowling of Hasan Ali in the second over for a duck.

Elgar and Amla made up for the loss of Markram with a 119-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries.

Dean Elgar struck his 13th half-century in Test cricket

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Elgar, however, was dismissed soon after as he was caught behind off the bowling of Shan Masood for 50, which came off 123 balls and included 10 boundaries.

However, when Elgar was on four runs, he was caught by Azhar Ali at first slip off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the ninth over. But, while it seemed Azhar took the catch cleanly, the third umpire decided otherwise and gave Elgar not out.

Theunis de Bruyn only made 10 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Yasir Shah for 10 runs.

Captain Faf du Plessis was sent packing in the next over as he was caught by Hasan Ali at long leg off the bowling of Afridi for a duck.

Despite losing three quick wickets, Amla led South Africa to victory with his unbeaten knock of 63, which came off 148 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Masood, Afridi, Hasan and Yasir claimed one wicket each.

South Africa seamer Duanne Olivier was named Man of the Match for taking 11 wickets, with six in the first innings and five in the second.