Kagiso Rabada and Senuran Muthusamy added 98 runs for the last wicket. Photo: AFP
RAWALPINDI:
South Africa fought a rearguard action to turn the second test against Pakistan on its head and take the upper hand after an enthralling third day’s play on Wednesday.
Spinner Simon Harmer took three wickets to leave Pakistan 94-4 at stumps in their second innings, with a slender 23-run lead, but it was the comeback from the South African tail that saw the tourists go on top with two days left.
Seerun Muthusamy scored an unbeaten 89 and Kagiso Rabada a maiden test 50 as South Africa’s lower order hauled them out of trouble and secured a 71-run lead after they scored 404.
Pakistan’s reply was full of nerves and saw their opening trio of batsmen removed cheaply, to be reeling at 16-3 courtesy of Simon Harmer and Rabada.
However, Saud Shakeel and out-of-form Babar Azam push the proceedings for the home side as they went past 50 without losing any wickets.
At the score of 60, Harmer struck for the third time in the evening as he got the prized wicket of Shakeel, who scored 11.
Babar Azam came to the crease to wild applause at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. He will be key to Pakistan’s chances on Thursday, as he is unbeaten on 49 with Mohammad Rizwan on 16.
Earlier, veteran Pakistan spinner Asif Afridi ended the innings on 404 at the stroke of tea. The 38-year-old Asif finished with figures of 6-79 and is the oldest man to take five wickets on a Test debut.
The afternoon session though belonged to South Africa as the World Test champions bid to square the two-match series, after losing the first Test by 93 runs in Lahore.
Muthusamy defied the Pakistan spinners, hitting eight fours to improve on his previous highest of 68 not out against Bangladesh at Chattogram last year.
Muthusamy added an invaluable 71 runs for the ninth wicket with Keshav Maharaj (30) and then increased the lead with a last-wicket stand worth 98.
Rabada smashed four sixes and as many fours, improving on the 47 he made against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2022.
The morning belonged to Asif, who at 38 years and 301 days overtook England’s Charles Marriott as oldest debutant to take five wickets.
Marriott did so against the West Indies at The Oval in 1933 aged 37 years and 332 days.
Like fellow left-armer Maharaj – who took seven wickets for the visitors in Pakistan’s 333 all out – Asif used the dry conditions to maximum effect.
South Africa resumed on 185-4 and added 100 runs in the morning session.
With the turn on the Rawalpindi stadium pitch increasing considerably, Asif dismissed Kyle Verreynne caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for 10 with the fourth ball of the day.
Tristan Stubbs defied Pakistan’s spinners for 256 minutes before a fastish delivery from Asif trapped him leg-before for 76. His knock was studded with six fours and a six.
Asif completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Simon Harmer leg-before for two while Noman Ali dismissed Marco Jansen in the same manner for 12.
Pakistan are ahead in the two-test series after winning by 93 runs in Lahore last week.
