Hashim Amla hit a half-century to take the fight to a spirited Pakistan attack on the opening day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The 30-year-old right hander was unbeaten on 71 as South Africa moved to 4-152 at tea from a precarious 4-104 after winning the toss at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

At the break JP Duminy was the other not out batsman on 36, having added 48 for the unbroken fifth wicket stand with Amla on a day when Pakistan’s bowling attack was on top.

Amla pulled paceman Junaid Khan to the square-leg for his seventh boundary to complete his 28th Test fifty. He has so far batted for 134 balls, hitting eight boundaries.

Pakistani pacemen Mohammad Irfan (2-38) and Junaid Khan (1-38) generated lively pace in the first session with the lanky Irfan taking two early wickets in the first session.

Irfan, the tallest ever player at 2.1m, lifted one to Alviro Petersen (three) whose fended push was well caught by Shan Masood at short-leg and then had Graeme Smith for 15 in his fourth over.

Smith, who is playing his first international match since an ankle injury earlier this year, hit Irfan for two well-timed boundaries but the lanky paceman had the last laugh, dismissing the South African skipper caught behind.

Pakistan successfully took a review after Australian umpire Rod Tucker initially turned down a confident appeal.

Kallis, who is also playing his first Test since February this year, looked rusty before he edged a sharp incoming delivery from Khan for wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal to take a smart low catch.

South Africa were struggling at 3-66 at lunch.

De Villiers helped Amla take South Africa past 100-mark before he fell in a bizarre manner, run out for 19.

De Villiers defended a slower one from spinner Zulfiqar Babar and as the ball rolled to first slip, Younis Khan threw the ball to Akmal who saw the batsman out of his crease dislodged the stumps.

He and Amla added 61 for the fourth wicket.

Babar and opener Shan Masood made Test debuts for Pakistan.