South Africa seal first Test win in Pakistan in 18 years, level series 1-1

WEB DESK: South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets on the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test, levelling the two-match series 1-1. It took the visitors 18 years to win on Pakistan’s soil with their last victory being in 2007.

Pakistan, batting in their second innings, were dismissed for 138 runs, setting South Africa a modest target of 68. Babar Azam top-scored for the hosts with 50 runs, while Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel contributed 28, 18, and 11, respectively. Captain Shan Masood was dismissed without scoring.

For South Africa, Simon Harmer was the standout performer, taking six wickets to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup. In the chase, captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 42 runs, guiding his team comfortably to victory and sealing a series draw.

Earlier Pakistan’s batting crumbled under sustained pressure from South Africa’s spinners on the fourth morning of the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as Simon Harmer claimed a six-wicket haul to leave the hosts reeling at 109 for eight, leading by only 38 runs at lunch.

Resuming the day at 96 for four, Pakistan lost Babar Azam almost immediately after he reached his fifty — trapped lbw by Harmer with a delivery that turned sharply back in and stayed low. The dismissal of the captain triggered a collapse as wickets tumbled in quick succession, with Mohammad Rizwan (18), Noman Ali (0) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (0) all falling soon.

Harmer continued his remarkable spell, becoming only the fourth South African bowler to reach 1,000 first-class wickets, while Kagiso Rabada provided strong support from the other end with reverse swing. At one point, South Africa picked up three wickets for just four runs, leaving Pakistan’s lower order exposed.

Only Salman Ali Agha, unbeaten on 8, and Sajid Khan offered brief resistance as Pakistan’s lead inched past 30 runs. Earlier, Pakistan had begun the day with hopes of building on Babar and Rizwan’s overnight partnership, but Harmer’s relentless accuracy and turn from the surface left them little room to recover.

With two wickets in hand and an entire session remaining before lunch, South Africa will fancy their chances of wrapping up the innings quickly and chasing a modest target. The visitors’ veteran spinners, Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, have been central to the contest, ensuring South Africa remain in sight of a rare Test win on Pakistani soil.