Spinners help South Africa level series against Pakistan

By our correspondent
RAWALPINDI: South Africa’s spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj ran riot on Thursday as the visitors crushed Pakistan by eight wickets to level the two-match Test series 1-1 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
On the fourth day after bowling Pakistan out for just 138 in their second innings, South Africa chased down the modest 68-run target in only 12.3 overs, losing two wickets in the process.
Captain Aiden Markram led the charge with a fluent 42, featuring eight exquisite boundaries, before being trapped lbw by Noman Ali. In the same over Noman also dismissed Tristan Stubbs (0), who was caught by Salman Ali Agha in the slips.
Ryan Rickelton sealed the victory in style, lofting Sajid Khan for a six to complete a well-deserved triumph for the visitors so swiftly that the scheduled lunch break was skipped. Rickelton finished unbeaten with two fours and a six while Tony de Zorzi remained not out without scoring. Noman ended with figures of 2-40 and 4-132 in the match.
Pakistan had earlier won the opening Test in Lahore by 93 runs. Like that encounter the Rawalpindi Test also concluded on the fourth day but this time it was South Africa’s spinners who dominated proceedings. Pakistan’s strategy to prepare spin-friendly tracks, a policy previously employed against England backfired, leaving them ensnared in their own conditions. The defeat denied Pakistan a chance to secure their maiden Test series victory in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle against the defending champions.
South Africa, who had clinched the previous World Test Championship cycle with a five-wicket win over Australia at Lord’s in June, showcased their class once again.
Pakistan resumed Day 4 at 94-4, with Babar Azam on 49 and Mohammad Rizwan on 16, hoping to rebuild. However, off-spinner Simon Harmer shattered those hopes in his very first over. He trapped Babar lbw after the Pakistan former skipper had just reached his 30th Test fifty off 85 balls. Babar reviewed the decision, but it stayed with the umpire’s call.
Harmer then struck again, removing Rizwan for 18 off 64 balls, caught by de Zorzi at short leg off an inside edge. In his next over, he dismissed Noman Ali (0), reducing Pakistan to 105-7. Shaheen Afridi was run out without scoring before Keshav Maharaj cleaned up the tail, bowling Salman Ali Agha (28) and then removing Sajid Khan (13) to end the innings at 138 in 49.3 overs. Salman’s 42-ball knock included two fours.
Harmer was the standout performer, claiming 6-50 in the innings and finishing with match figures of 8-125, a career-best effort. Maharaj contributed 2-34, giving him 9-36 across the match. Pakistan had earlier posted 333 in their first innings while South Africa replied with 404, earning a crucial 71-run lead.
Both sides will now turn their attention to the three-match T20I series, beginning on October 28 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. The second T20I will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on October 31, followed by the third at the same venue on November 1. Agha Salman will continue to lead Pakistan’s T20I squad, with Babar Azam included as the premier batsman.
The teams will then meet in a three-match ODI series at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, on November 4, 6, and 8. Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the ODI side after selectors replaced Mohammad Rizwan despite his strong performances over the past year.