Senuran Muthusami’s career-best bowling helped South Africa build a strong platform in their batting, but they lost four wickets in the third session, giving Pakistan some control in the Lahore Test.
The pitch offered turn and grip, and both teams’ spinners bowled impressively. Muthusami’s outstanding bowling restricted Pakistan to just under 400 runs, giving South Africa a solid start with the bat. However, a late session collapse saw the Proteas lose four wickets. Noman Ali’s brilliant spell has put the reins firmly in Pakistan’s hands.
At the close of the second day of the first Test, South Africa were 216/6, still trailing by 162 runs. Tony de Zorzi remained unbeaten on 81 off 140 balls.
South Africa had been 174/2 at one point, but then lost four wickets for just 26 runs in 62 balls. Of their six wickets, the 39-year-old left-arm spinner Noman took four.
Despite the end-of-day setback, South Africa had a fantastic start. They bowled Pakistan out for 378, taking the last five wickets for just 65 runs.
Muthusami finished with six wickets for 117 runs, including three wickets in a single over. The 31-year-old left-arm spinner had previously taken a career-best four wickets for 45 runs in Test cricket.
Pakistan had begun their second day’s innings at 313/5, with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Aga safely navigating the first 11 overs.
The game changed when Muthusami came into the attack. He dismissed Rizwan (75 off 140), breaking a 163-run partnership, and in the same over, removed Noman and Sajid Khan in consecutive deliveries, nearly completing a hat-trick.
Salman Ali Aga and Shaheen Shah Afridi looked set for a century partnership, but Muthusami bowled Afridi, claiming his sixth wicket. The off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen then dismissed Salman to wrap up Pakistan’s innings.
Salman fell short of a century by just seven runs, scoring 93 off 145 balls with five fours and three sixes.
In reply, South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton survived four overs before lunch. After the break, Markram reached the milestone of 3,000 Test runs in his career.
Noman broke the opening stand at 45 by dismissing Markram, caught by Rizwan. Rickelton went on to score several boundaries but couldn’t get past 17 off 41 balls before falling to Noman. Rickelton eventually reached fifty off 106 balls, forming a partnership with Tony de Zorzi, who reached his fifty in 63 balls.
Salman broke their 94-run partnership in 153 balls, with former captain Babar Azam taking a brilliant catch in the slips. Noman then dismissed Tristan Stubbs, claiming his third wicket. Dewald Brevis fell for a golden duck off Sajid Khan’s delivery.
Kyle Verreynne couldn’t stay long either and was dismissed LBW by Noman, turning South Africa’s score from 174/2 to 200/6.
The remaining overs were safely negotiated by de Zorzi and Muthusami.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 1st Innings: (previous day 313/5) 378 all out in 110.4 overs (Rizwan 75, Salman 93, Noman 0, Sajid 0, Afridi 7, Hasan 0*; Rabada 17-2-56-1, Mulder 2-0-13-0, Subrayen 25.4-1-78-2, Harmer 33.5-10-101-1, Muthusami 32-6-117-6, Markram 1-0-6-0)
South Africa 1st Innings: 216/6 in 67 overs (Markram 20, Rickelton 71, Mulder 17, de Zorzi 81*, Stubbs 8, Brevis 0, Verreynne 2, Muthusami 6*; Afridi 5-2-15-0, Noman 27-3-85-4, Sajid 24-2-73-1, Hasan 4-2-14-0, Salman 7-2-21-1)
