JOIN USAn unbeaten 101-run stand for the fifth wicket between Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq kept Pakistan alive in the first Test as they reached 183 for four at the close of play on day three against South Africa at the Wanderers.
The visitors looked to be heading for a heavy defeat when they slumped to 82-4 before tea chasing down 480, but the pair batted through the final session to give Pakistan hope.
They still need 297 runs to win but with the rain predicted on the final two days all results remain possible.
Misbah (44 batting) and Shafiq (53 batting) played patiently, seeing out 45 overs in their partnership as South Africa struggled to find a breakthrough.
In part the home side have only themselves to blame. Vernon Philander thought he had Shafiq caught at slip by Graeme Smith when the batsman was on 40, but the Pakistan right-hander was recalled after a check with the third umpire showed it was a no-ball.
In the next over Robin Peterson dropped a simple chance offered by Misbah at point off Kallis.
With the new ball due in just five overs on Monday morning, South Africa will still be confident of forcing a result if the weather holds.
Earlier in the day, South Africa scored 68 runs in just nine overs before declaring on 275 for the loss of three wickets.
Resuming on his overnight score of 63, De Villiers led the charge with a sparkling unbeaten century off 117 balls.
Score board
SOUTH AFRICA (I Innings): 253
PAKISTAN (I Innings): 49
SOUTH AFRICA (II Innings, O/n: 207-3):
Petersen c Hafeez b Gul 27
Smith c Ahmed b Gul 52
Amla (not out) 74
Kallis c Shafiq b Ajmal 7
De Villiers (not out) 103
Extras (LB-4, W-3, NB-5) 12
Total (for 3 wkts decl, 62 overs) 275
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 1-87, 3-99.
Bowling: Gul 14-2-58-2, Junaid Khan 13-1-63-0, Ali 11-1-44-0, Hafeez 5-0-32-0, Ajmal 18-1-74-1, Younis 1-1-0-0.
PAKISTAN (II Innings):
Hafeez c de Villiers b Philander 2
Jamshed c Peterson b Steyn 46
Ali lbw Kallis 18
Younis c de Villiers b Morkel 15
Misbah (batting) 44
Shafiq (batting) 53
Extras (LB-2, NB-3) 5
Total (for 4 wkts; 75 overs) 183
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-64, 3-70, 4-82.
Bowling: Steyn 18-7-26-1, Philander 17 -3-39-1, Morkel 18-5-65-1, Kallis 12-3-27-1, Robin Peterson 10-3-24-0.