Tony de Zorzi scored his second Test century, and his second in the subcontinent, but it was not enough to prevent South Africa from conceding a 109-run first innings deficit against Pakistan. The 39-year-old left-arm spinner Noman Ali continued his outstanding form, claiming a fourth successive Test five-wicket haul, his seventh at home and ninth overall, giving Pakistan a huge advantage on a pitch expected to become increasingly challenging for batsmen.
Pakistan’s second innings began shakily as they lost Imam-ul-Haq in the second over and Shan Masood in the tenth. Despite these early setbacks, Pakistan extended their lead to 145 runs. Both teams have shown a tendency for collapses, so the match remained finely poised.
South Africa lost four wickets for 54 runs on the third morning after an earlier collapse of four wickets for 26 runs on the second evening. Though they surpassed 250, they were unable to approach Pakistan’s total of 378.
Senuran Muthusamy resumed alongside de Zorzi and looked relatively assured until he edged Sajid Khan to slip, where Salman Agha took a sharp catch. South Africa batted deep, and Pakistan did not consider themselves facing the tail just yet. Simon Harmer played a powerful reverse sweep for four off Noman Ali, while de Zorzi appeared eager to reach his hundred. He was 81 overnight, moved to 87 with a drive through the line for four off Sajid, and reached 96 after launching Noman over long-off for six. Later in the over, he took a single with a reverse sweep to bring up a well-earned century, demonstrating his skill in tough conditions.
With the second new ball approaching, de Zorzi sought to increase his aggression, but this proved his downfall. He advanced on Noman and swung hard, only managing a catch to Shaheen Shah Afridi on the long-on boundary, handing Noman his fifth wicket. Pakistan then took the second new ball, and their spinners were given the task. It took just eight balls for Noman to strike again. Prenalen Subrayen edged to slip where Agha completed another good catch. Noman finished with figures of six for 112.
Sajid Khan wrapped up the innings by bowling Kagiso Rabada in the 84th over with a delivery that turned past the outside edge and hit the top of off stump.
South Africa’s second innings began positively, with Rabada and Harmer opening the bowling. Harmer made an early impact when Abdullah Shafique almost chipped him to mid-wicket, and shortly after Imam-ul-Haq was stumped after missing a drive off Harmer’s bowling.
Rabada bowled an exceptional spell, extending to six overs of back-of-a-length deliveries. He found Shafique’s edge three times, but the ball went for four on each occasion. He also bowled a superb delivery that just missed off stump against Shan Masood. Rabada’s pressure eventually paid off at the other end when Harmer took a second wicket, Masood, who was out LBW after being trapped on the back foot attempting to cut an incoming delivery.
Babar Azam survived a review off Rabada after a leg-side strike; ball-tracking showed the ball would have bounced over the stumps, leaving the umpire’s decision unchanged. By lunch, Rabada was wicketless but had bowled one of the finest fast bowling spells seen in the game.
