South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj took seven wickets as the visitors reached 185/4, leaving the second Test against Pakistan finely poised on Tuesday in Rawalpindi.
Left-arm spinner Maharaj claimed 7-102 for his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests, helping bowl Pakistan out for 333 on a spin-friendly pitch.
Pakistan’s debutant spinner Asif Afridi then took the crucial wickets of Tony de Zorzi (55) and Dewald Brevis for nought, restricting South Africa’s response.
At close on day two, Tristan Stubbs was batting on 68, having added a valuable 113 runs for the third wicket with De Zorzi, who scored a well-crafted half-century to lift the visitors from 54-2.
“I am really happy for Asif, who has done so well in domestic matches,” said batsman Saud Shakeel.
“At
one point he’d given away just 19 runs in 10 overs and then he came up with two good wickets to give us some respite.”
“The match is even at this stage and we need to get them out early on day three,” he added.
Pakistan Vs South Africa: 2nd Test Day 2 – Highlights
South African batting coach Ashwell Prince said he was satisfied with a day’s play.
“Losing the last two wickets were not ideal,” said Prince, a former South African batter.
“We knew these conditions are harder to bat, but I would say pretty good day for us and we need to build on that.”
Just when it seemed the pair would stabilise the innings, the 38-year-old spinner Asif trapped De Zorzi leg-before and earned his first wicket on review.
In his next over, he had Brevis caught in the slips for a duck.
Kyle Verreynne was the other unbeaten batter at the close, on 10, with South Africa trailing by 148 runs as they attempt to level the series after losing the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs.
Asif has figures of 2-24, while Sajid Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi took a wicket each.
Tristan Stubbs & Tony de Zorzi Shine
In South Africa’s reply, fast bowler Shaheen struck early to remove Ryan Rickelton, caught behind for 14.
Visiting skipper Aiden Markram attempted to counter the home spinners, hitting debutant Asif for a six before being caught off Sajid at long-on for 32.
The highlight of the day was the superb bowling by Maharaj.
The left-armer, who missed the first Test defeat due to injury, exploited the dry Rawalpindi pitch to great effect.
Pakistan resumed on 259-5 and reached 316 without trouble before Maharaj began his spell.
Having taken two wickets on the first day, he broke through Salman Agha’s defence, trapping him leg-before for 45, giving the World Test champions hope of wrapping up the innings quickly.
Agha hit five fours and added 70 for the sixth wicket with Saud Shakeel.
Shakeel looked steady, reaching his 10th half-century with a couple off Maharaj.
However, the spinner had him caught in the slips for 66, triggering a collapse.
Maharaj bowled Shaheen for nought, completing his first five-wicket haul against Pakistan.
He wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Sajid (five) and Asif (four) as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 17 runs.
(With inputs from Agencies)
