Pakistan’s first innings came to an end at 333 runs on the second day of the Rawalpindi Test against South Africa, with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj stealing the show through a brilliant seven-wicket performance.
Pakistan Resume from 259-5 on Day Two
Pakistan began the second day on 259 for 5, with Saud Shakeel (42) and Salman Ali Agha (10) at the crease. Both batsmen added valuable runs in the morning session, showing patience and discipline against a probing South African attack.
Saud Shakeel completed a well-crafted half-century before being dismissed for 66 runs, while Salman Ali Agha played confidently for his 45 before falling just short of a fifty.
Keshav Maharaj Spins South Africa Back into the Game
South Africa’s star spinner Keshav Maharaj dominated the innings with a stunning display of control and variation. He removed Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi, and Shaheen Afridi, wrapping up the Pakistani tail efficiently.
Shaheen was bowled for a duck, becoming Maharaj’s fifth victim, while Nauman Ali remained unbeaten on 6 runs. Maharaj finished with figures of 7 wickets, marking one of his best Test performances on Asian soil.
The remaining wickets were taken by Simon Harmer (2) and Kagiso Rabada (1), who supported Maharaj effectively in applying pressure throughout the innings.
Strong Start but Missed Opportunity for Pakistan
Earlier on Day One, Pakistan had made a solid start after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Captain Shan Masood led from the front with a fluent 87, while Abdullah Shafique contributed 57 runs at the top of the order.
However, the middle and lower order failed to capitalize on the foundation laid by the top batsmen, leaving Pakistan short of what could have been a commanding total.
Series Situation and Previous Result
Pakistan entered the Rawalpindi Test with a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, having defeated South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at Lahore. The home side will now look to bowl South Africa out cheaply to maintain their upper hand and secure the series.
With the pitch offering some turn and bounce, spin is likely to play a major role as the match progresses, giving both teams a tactical challenge in the coming days.
