Rawalpindi (Abdul Basit): South Africa produced a dominant all-round performance to crush Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, levelling the two-match series 1–1.
Chasing a modest 68-run target, skipper Aiden Markram led from the front with a fluent 42 off 45 balls, cracking eight boundaries. Alongside Ryan Rickelton (25 not out), he powered the visitors to a flying start, adding 64 for the first wicket before Noman Ali struck twice in one over, removing both Markram and Tristan Stubbs. However, by then, the result was all but sealed, with South Africa cruising to victory in just 12.3 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan’s batting frailties resurfaced once again as the hosts folded for a mere 138 in their second innings. Simon Harmer was the chief destroyer, claiming a sensational 6 for 50, while Keshav Maharaj bagged 2 for 34 to complement his earlier heroics with the ball.
Pakistan, resuming at 94 for 4 on day four, pinned their hopes on Babar Azam, who completed his 30th Test half-century with grace and control. But once he was trapped lbw by Harmer for 50, the innings unraveled in familiar fashion. Mohammad Rizwan (18) and Salman Agha (28) offered brief resistance, but the lower order folded meekly as Harmer and Maharaj ran through the tail. South Africa’s first-innings advantage had been built on a gritty 89 not out by Senuran Muthusamy and a blazing 71 off 61 balls by Kagiso Rabada, which helped the visitors post 404, securing a 71-run lead.
For Pakistan, Asif Afridi impressed with a maiden five-wicket haul (6 for 79), but his effort was overshadowed by the team’s collective batting collapse. Earlier, skipper Shan Masood (87), Saud Shakeel (66), and Abdullah Shafique (57) had guided Pakistan to a decent 333 in the first innings before Maharaj’s brilliant 7 for 102 triggered the first slide.
The defeat once again highlighted Pakistan’s inconsistency and vulnerability against spin on home soil, a worrying sign as the Proteas left Rawalpindi with the momentum firmly on their side.
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