Srinagar: Oct 21: The second and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa remains delicately balanced after debutant Asif Afridi’s late double strike halted the Proteas’ progress on day two at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The visitors closed the day on 185-4 in 65 overs, trailing Pakistan by 148 runs in their first innings.
South Africa looked set for a solid reply after bowling out Pakistan for 333 earlier in the day. Openers Ryan Rickelton and skipper Aiden Markram began cautiously, adding 22 runs before Shaheen Shah Afridi found an early breakthrough, removing Rickelton for 14.
Markram then took charge, timing the ball well and keeping the scoreboard moving before falling to Sajid Khan for 32, ending a brief 32-run stand with Tristan Stubbs.
The pair of Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi then steadied South Africa’s innings, building confidence through steady rotation of strike and selective aggression. Both reached well-earned fifties, putting Pakistan under pressure with a 113-run partnership for the third wicket.
However, Pakistan hit back through debutant Asif Afridi, who dismissed de Zorzi for 55 off 93 deliveries, breaking the crucial stand. Asif struck again in the same spell, sending Dewald Brevis back for a four-ball duck to shift momentum late in the day.
At stumps, Stubbs remained unbeaten on 68, alongside *Kyle Verreynne (10)**, with the match finely poised heading into day three.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings was built around captain Shan Masood’s 87 and Saud Shakeel’s 66, while Keshav Maharaj led South Africa’s bowling effort with a stunning 7/102 from 42.4 overs.
Pakistan made a steady start through openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique, who added 35 for the first wicket before Simon Harmer removed Imam for 17. Shafique and Masood then steadied the innings with a disciplined 111-run partnership for the second wicket.
Masood looked in fine touch, clearing the ropes thrice on his way to 87, while Shafique’s patient 57 came off 146 deliveries. Babar Azam (16) and Mohammad Rizwan (19) provided brief support, but it was Saud Shakeel (66) and Salman Ali Agha (45) who ensured Pakistan crossed the 300 mark.
Maharaj’s relentless spell saw him dismantle the lower order, dismissing Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, and Asif Afridi to claim his seventh Test five-wicket haul. Harmer supported well with two wickets, while Kagiso Rabada chipped in with one.
With Pakistan’s lead still substantial and Stubbs holding the key for South Africa, day three promises another gripping chapter in this hard-fought Rawalpindi Test.
