Pindi Test: South Africa beat Pakistan by 8 wickets,series level  by 1-1

Rawalpindi: South Africa beat Pakistan in second test match by 8 wickets and leveled the two match series by 1-1.

According to details Pakistan suffered a disappointing batting collapse in the Rawalpindi Test, setting South Africa a target of just 68 runs, which the visitors chased down for the loss of only two wickets.

In their second innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 138, leaving South Africa with a modest target.

 The Proteas comfortably reached the total, with Aiden Markram scoring 42 runs before being trapped lbw by Nauman Ali, while Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for a duck, also by Nauman.

While Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 25 runs to see his team home.

Earlier, Pakistan’s batting once again faltered against South Africa’s disciplined bowling. Spinner Simon Harmer was the star performer, claiming six wickets.

 On the fourth morning, Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession, with Babar Azam top-scoring with 50 and Salman Ali Agha contributing 28 runs.

Starting their second innings 71 runs behind, Pakistan’s top order collapsed early. Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, and Saud Shakeel managed just 9, 0, 6, and 11 runs respectively, leaving the hosts in deep trouble.

Pakistan had earlier scored 333 runs in their first innings, to which the visitors replied with 404, earning a crucial 71-run lead.

South Africa’s lower order played a vital role in building that lead. Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy added 71 runs together, followed by a 98-run stand between Muthusamy and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Partnerships between Muthusamy and Marco Jansen (25 runs), as well as Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi (113 runs), further boosted the total. Remarkably, South Africa’s last three wickets added 194 runs.

For Pakistan, debutant Asif Afridi impressed with six wickets, while Nauman Ali took two, and Shaheen Afridi and Sajid Khan claimed one apiece.

Pakistan made one change for the Test, bringing in left-arm spinner Asif Afridi in place of Hasan Ali. Afridi, aged 39 years and 299 days, received his Test cap from Shaheen Afridi, marking one of the oldest debuts for Pakistan in Test cricket.