Babar, Rizwan Company as Pakistan close on day three at 94/4

• Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan rebuild after early collapse.
• Pakistan’s lead extends to 23 after losing four wickets.
• Asif Afridi shines with six-wicket debut for Pakistan.
  

Pakistan were in trouble after opening their second innings following Simon Harmer’s three-wicket spell as they finished the third day of the second and final Test on 94/4 with a 23-run lead at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Pakistan continued their second innings on a disappointing note, losing Imam-ul-Haq for nine to Harmer early.

Harmer struck again, dismissing skipper San Masood for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 16-2 after just six overs.

South Africa continued to pile on the pressure as Kagiso Rabada claimed the wicket of Abdullah Shafique, who managed six runs off 19 balls, putting the hosts in more trouble.

Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam joined forces to anchor the innings, steadily building a crucial partnership that helped the team cross the 50-run mark, reaching 55-3 in 18 overs.

However, the 44-run stand was broken when Harmer claimed his third wicket, dismissing Saud for 11 off 43 balls, which included one four.

Mohammad Rizwan came to the crease and scored a run, hit a boundary to help the home team cross the path of 71 runs, giving Pakistan the lead over the Proteas.

The hosts will continue on day four with Babar on 49 off 83 balls and Rizwan on 16 off 49.

In reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 333, South Africa scored 404 runs, thanks to outstanding contributions from Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada.

Proteas openers Ryan Rickelton and captain Aiden Markram looked set to lay a solid foundation.

The runs flowed steadily but the partnership broke down when Shaheen Afridi dismissed Rickelton for 14 off 26 balls, leaving the visitors at 22-1 in 8.2 overs.

Markram then took charge, hitting boundaries and keeping the scoreboard ticking over to help South Africa reach 50 in the 20th over.

However, Sajid Khan ended his stay by removing Markram for 32 off 62 balls, breaking a 32-run stand with Tristan Stubbs.

Tony de Zorzi steadied the innings alongside Stubbs, adding 32 runs for the third wicket as tea approached.

In the final session before tea, both batsmen grew in confidence, putting Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure and regularly finding the boundary.

Stubbs and de Zorzi went on to score fifties, putting together a 100-run partnership for the third wicket, as South Africa reached 166-2 in 57 overs.

Pakistan finally found relief when Asif Afridi broke the 113-run stand by dismissing De Jorzi for 55 off 93 balls, which included a four and two sixes.

In the same spell, Asif struck again to remove Dewald Brevis for a four-ball duck, leaving South Africa reeling at 171-4 in 59.3 overs.

Resuming on 185-4 in 65 overs, South Africa lost Kyle Verreynne early, who managed just 10 off 29 balls before falling to Asif – his third victim of the innings.

Set batsman Tristan Stubbs was next to depart on 76 off 205 balls (six fours and one six), reducing the visitors to 204-6 in 73.4 overs.

Asif continued his red-hot form, completing a memorable five-wicket haul on debut by trapping Simon Harmer lbw for just two runs.

With wickets falling, Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen joined forces to rebuild the innings, building a solid 25-run stand.

However, Noman Ali managed to claim his first wicket by removing Jansen for 12 off 26 balls, leaving South Africa at 235-8 in 84.4 overs.

Muthusamy then took the attack to Pakistan’s spinners, playing positively and guiding his team past the 250-run mark.

He found steady support from Keshav Maharaj, who contributed valuable runs as the pair added stability to the innings.

The duo put together a 50-run stand for the ninth wicket, during which Muthusamy reached his second Test fifty – a crucial knock that helped South Africa pass 300 in 98 overs.

Pakistan finally broke the partnership when Noman Ali dismissed Maharaj for 30 off 53 balls, taking the visitors’ ninth wicket to 306-9 in 100 overs.

Kagiso Rabada also made a valuable contribution with the bat, partnering with Muthusamy to help the Proteas overcome Pakistan’s total and take the lead, easing the pressure on their side.

Rabada was outstanding, finding steady boundaries to push past the team’s total of 350, while also contributing to a 50-run stand for the final wicket.

He played a brilliant innings, reaching his maiden Test fifty and keeping the scoreboard moving as South Africa reached 381-9 in 113 overs.

The 98-run stand was finally broken when Asif took his sixth wicket by dismissing Rabada, who scored 71 off 61 balls, including four fours and four sixes, while Muthusamy remained unbeaten on 89 off 155 balls, which consisted of eight boundaries.

Asif Afridi finished with 6/79 in 34.3 overs, followed by Noman Ali with two wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sajid Khan claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 333 in 113.4 overs, with skipper Shan Masood top scoring with 87 off 176 deliveries, including two fours and three sixes.

Opener Abdullah Shafique also scored 57 off 146 balls with four boundaries, while Saud Shakeel contributed 66 off 147 and Salman Ali Agha played a crucial knock of 45 off 76 deliveries.

Keshav Maharaj finished with brilliant figures of 7/102 in 42.4 overs, while Simon Harmer claimed two wickets and Kagiso Rabada one.