South Africa staged a strong comeback on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Spinner Simon Harmer took three key wickets, leaving Pakistan at 94-4 in their second innings. They held a slim 23-run lead, but South Africa’s tailenders turned the game around.
Seerun Muthusamy scored an unbeaten 89, and Kagiso Rabada hit his first-ever Test fifty. Their lower order lifted South Africa to 404, giving them a 71-run lead.
Pakistan’s reply started poorly, with their top three batsmen falling cheaply. They were struggling at 16-3, thanks to Harmer and Rabada’s brilliant bowling.
However, Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam steadied the ship. They took Pakistan past 50 without losing a wicket. But at 60, Harmer struck again, dismissing Shakeel for 11.
Babar Azam, greeted by loud cheers at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, will be crucial for Pakistan. He is unbeaten on 49, with Mohammad Rizwan on 16 at stumps.
Earlier, Asif Afridi took the final wicket to end South Africa’s innings at 404. The 38-year-old spinner finished with figures of 6-79, becoming the oldest debutant to take five wickets in a Test match.
South Africa dominated the afternoon session as they aimed to level the series, after losing the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs.
Muthusamy played a patient knock, hitting eight fours. He added 71 runs for the ninth wicket with Keshav Maharaj (30) and then built a crucial 98-run partnership for the final wicket.
Rabada also played a key role, hitting four sixes and as many fours. He scored his maiden Test 50, improving on his previous best of 47 against New Zealand in 2022.
In the morning session, Asif Afridi shone. He became the oldest debutant to take five wickets, surpassing England’s Charles Marriott. Asif dismissed Kyle Verreynne and Tristan Stubbs early in the day.
Stubbs made 76 off 256 balls, showing resilience against Pakistan’s spinners. Asif completed his five-wicket haul by removing Harmer, and Noman Ali dismissed Marco Jansen for 12.
Pakistan are still ahead in the series, having won the first Test by 93 runs in Lahore.