Left-arm spinner Noman Ali (4-85 in 27 overs) bowled superbly on Monday to reduce South Africa to 216-6 at stumps in 67 overs, in response to Pakistan’s solid first-innings total of 378, on the second day of the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Tony de Zorzi was unbeaten on 81 at the close of play with Senuran Muthusamy not out on 6 at the other end. South Africa still trail by 162 runs and will need to bat well on a pitch increasingly favoring spinners to avoid conceding a first-innings lead.
Unlike the opening day, which saw a sizeable turnout, the second day drew a sparse crowd despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offering free entry.
South Africa began their innings confidently just before lunch. After the break, skipper Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton displayed good game awareness on a surface offering sharp turn and inconsistent bounce.
Pakistan broke through at 45 when Noman Ali dismissed Markram, who edged a turning delivery to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Markram made 20 off 37 balls, including one boundary.
Wiaan Mulder then joined Rickelton and the pair added 35 runs before Noman struck again, with Rizwan taking another catch behind the stumps. Mulder scored 17 off 41 deliveries, hitting three fours.
At tea, South Africa were 112-2. Post-tea, Rickelton and de Zorzi batted sensibly, putting on a 94-run partnership for the third wicket. However, off-spinner Agha Salman provided Pakistan with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Rickelton — brilliantly caught by Babar Azam at first slip — leaving the Proteas at 174-3.
Rickelton, who brought up his half-century off 106 balls, made 71 off 137 deliveries, including nine fours and two sixes. It was the first time he failed to convert a Test fifty into a century, having previously turned his last two fifties into hundreds.
As shadows crept across the ground, Tristan Stubbs joined de Zorzi but struggled against spin before falling to Noman Ali for 8, leaving South Africa in deeper trouble at 192-4 in the 55th over.
In the following over, Sajid Khan dismissed Dewald Brevis for a duck, compounding the visitors’ woes. Noman then removed wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (2), who was adjudged lbw. The review upheld the on-field decision, with ball-tracking confirming it would have hit the stumps.
Shortly before stumps, the bails were replaced at the keeper’s end due to fading light.
Tony de Zorzi played a composed and impressive innings, handling Pakistan’s spinners with confidence. He reached his third Test fifty off 63 balls and remained unbeaten on 81 off 140 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.
Noman Ali was well supported by Sajid Khan (1-24) and Agha Salman (1-21), both of whom maintained pressure on the South African batting lineup.
Earlier in the day, South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy claimed career-best figures of 6-117 in 32 overs to help bowl out Pakistan for 378 in 110.4 overs. Pakistan had resumed their innings at the overnight score of 313-5 and managed only 20.4 overs on Day 2.
Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman began the day confidently against Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada. However, it was Muthusamy who turned the tide, removing Rizwan (75), Noman Ali (0), and Sajid Khan (0) within four deliveries, reducing Pakistan to 362-8.
Rizwan, who resumed on 62, edged a delivery that spun away to the keeper, while Noman was bowled and Sajid caught at slip by Markram. Rizwan’s patient 75 came off 140 balls and included two sixes and two fours. His 163-run partnership with Agha Salman set a new record for Pakistan’s sixth-wicket stand against South Africa.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (7) fell to Muthusamy soon after, while Agha Salman missed a well-deserved century when he attempted a big shot and was caught in the deep by Muthusamy off Prenelan Subrayen. Agha’s 145-ball innings featured three sixes and five fours and lasted 206 minutes.
Subrayen supported Muthusamy well, taking 2-78 in 25.4 overs, while Simon Harmer claimed 1-101 in 33 overs and Rabada finished with 1-56 in 17.
Chris Brown of New Zealand and Rod Tucker of Australia are the on-field umpires, with Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle serving as match referee.
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