South Africa steady after Markram’s dismissal as Pakistan eye breakthroughs in Rawalpindi Test

WEB DESK: After a steady start, South Africa lost Aiden Markram for a well-compiled 32, undone by off-spinner Sajid Khan’s flight and guile. Markram, who had looked in good touch with four boundaries and a six, attempted to go over the top but ended up holing out to Saud Shakeel at long-on, handing Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough.

At the other end, Tristan Stubbs has held firm, batting with admirable patience on 23 off 84 balls, while Tony de Zorzi is unbeaten on 13. The pair has since added 34 runs for the third wicket, frustrating Pakistan’s bowlers on a surface that has offered slow but steady turn and the occasional hint of reverse swing.

Debutant left-arm spinner Asif Afridi bowled with control but went wicketless in his 11 overs, while Sajid Khan (1-19) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-15) were Pakistan’s wicket-takers. The home side’s bowlers probed consistently, though they were left ruing a missed opportunity when they declined to review an lbw shout against de Zorzi that replays later showed would have hit leg stump.

Pakistan’s fielding is sharp, and captain Shan Masood rotated his attack smartly, alternating between pace and spin to exploit whatever assistance the pitch offered. However, with the afternoon heat baking the surface and the ball losing its shine, both Stubbs and de Zorzi gradually settled in, showing the discipline needed for a long Test innings.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan were bowled out for 333 on the second morning of the Rawalpindi Test after a late collapse triggered by spinner Keshav Maharaj’s seven-wicket haul. Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman had earlier steadied the innings, but once Salman fell before the drinks break, the hosts lost their remaining wickets quickly. Maharaj wrapped up the tail, removing Sajid Khan and debutant Asif Afridi in successive overs to finish with 7 for 99.

The second Test between Pakistan and South Africa remains finely poised at tea on day two, with the visitors reaching 86 for two in their first innings, still trailing by 247 runs.

Earlier today

With the surface starting to assist spin, Pakistan will rely on their bowlers to make early breakthroughs and restrict the visitors’ first-innings charge. Pakistan were well-placed to push past 350 but lost key wickets after lunch, with Maharaj and Simon Harmer working in tandem to choke the scoring and dismantle the middle order.

The partnership, however, was broken when Maharaj trapped Agha lbw with one that slid on straight, his third wicket of the innings. Soon after, Shakeel edged to Aiden Markram at slip to give Maharaj his fourth. The left-arm spinner later bowled Shaheen Shah Afridi while Harmer provided strong support, taking 2 for 75, extracting sharp turn and bounce on a surface that increasingly aided spin.

Pakistan’s lower order, led by Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, survived some tense moments late in the day as the Proteas pressed for an early finish. Earlier, Salman and Shakeel’s measured approach had frustrated South Africa’s seamers, including Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, who went wicketless despite several probing spells.