Simon Harmer took three early wickets to enhance South Africa’s prospects of a series-leveling win against a struggling Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
Harmer secured 3-26 as Pakistan wrapped up the third day at a shaky 94-4 — just 23 runs ahead, with six wickets remaining and two days left on a spin-friendly Rawalpindi pitch.
Pakistan’s hopes now hinge on Babar Azam, unbeaten at 49, and Mohammad Rizwan, not out at 16, as they aim to clinch the two-match series after winning the first Test by 93 runs in Lahore.
South Africa amassed 404 runs, thanks to Senuran Muthusamy’s career-best 89 not out and Kagiso Rabada’s top Test score of 71, securing a crucial 71-run lead for the visitors.
“It was a remarkable partnership that we will remember, hopefully putting us in a solid position to win tomorrow (Thursday),” said Muthusamy.
The home team initially scored 333 in their first innings.
Facing a tough situation, Pakistan’s second innings began disastrously as opener Imam-ul-Haq (nine) and captain Shan Masood (zero) fell to Harmer with the score at 16.
The score reached 16-3 when Rabada dismissed Abdullah Shafique for six in the slips.
Harmer returned to dismiss Saud Shakeel, caught in the slips for 11, ending a determined 44-run third-wicket partnership.
Earlier, Asif Afridi became the oldest debutant to claim five or more wickets in Tests with figures of 6-79.
His efforts had South Africa struggling at 221-7, with Pakistan poised for a lead, but skipper Masood’s decision to take the second new ball backfired, though Asif defended the choice.
“Captain Shan Masood consulted us before taking the second new ball, and we thought it would help, but it didn’t,” said Asif, adding, “any target around 200-210 will give us victory.”
Asif Surpasses Marriott’s Record
Muthusamy played a crucial role in adding 169 for the last two wickets before Asif ended the innings just before tea.
The South African all-rounder resisted Pakistan’s spinners, hitting eight fours to surpass his previous top score of 68 not out against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.
Muthusamy added an essential 71 runs for the ninth wicket with Keshav Maharaj (30) and then extended the lead with a last-wicket partnership worth 98.
Rabada hit four sixes and as many fours, improving on his 47 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2022.
The morning belonged to Asif, who, at 38 years and 301 days, surpassed England’s Charles Marriott as the 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 claimed seven wickets for the visitors in Pakistan’s 333 all out — Asif made the most of the dry conditions.
As the turn on the Rawalpindi pitch increased, Asif dismissed Kyle Verreynne, caught behind by wicketkeeper Rizwan for 10 with the day’s fourth ball.
Tristan Stubbs resisted Pakistan’s spinners for 256 minutes before a quicker delivery from Asif trapped him leg-before for 76, an innings featuring six fours and a six.
Asif completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Harmer leg-before for two, while Noman Ali similarly dismissed Marco Jansen for 12.
