Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to boost South Africa’s chances of forcing a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan on the third day of the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
Harmer took 3 for 26 as Pakistan closed on a precarious 94 for 4, just 23 runs ahead with two days remaining on a spin-friendly surface.
Pakistan’s hopes now rest on captain Babar Azam, unbeaten on 49, and Mohammad Rizwan, 16 not out, as they look to secure the two-match series after winning the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs.
Earlier, South Africa had piled up 404 runs to gain a crucial 71-run lead, thanks to Senuran Muthusamy’s career-best 89 not out and Kagiso Rabada’s highest Test score of 71.
“It was a fantastic partnership, one that we will remember and hopefully put us into a really strong position tomorrow to win the game,” said Muthusamy.
Pakistan had made 333 in their first innings, but their second innings began in disarray. Imam-ul-Haq (9) and skipper Shan Masood (0) both fell to Harmer with the score at 16, and Abdullah Shafique soon followed, caught in the slips off Rabada for six.
Harmer returned in his second spell to dismiss Saud Shakeel, who edged to the slips for 11 after a 44-run stand with Babar.
Earlier in the day, debutant Asif Afridi produced a memorable performance, becoming the oldest player to take five or more wickets on Test debut. The 38-year-old left-armer finished with 6 for 79, surpassing England’s Charles Marriott, who achieved the feat in 1933 aged 37 years and 332 days.
Asif’s efforts had South Africa struggling at 221 for 7, but Shan Masood’s decision to take the second new ball proved costly. The move allowed Muthusamy and Rabada to add 169 for the last two wickets, turning the match in South Africa’s favour.
“Captain Shan Masood consulted us before taking the second new ball and we thought it would help, but it didn’t,” said Asif. “Any target around 200-210 will give us victory.”
Muthusamy batted with patience and precision, striking eight fours to surpass his previous best of 68 not out against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year. He shared a 71-run ninth-wicket partnership with Keshav Maharaj (30) and a final-wicket stand of 98 with Rabada, who smashed four sixes and four fours.
Like Maharaj, who took seven wickets in Pakistan’s first innings, Asif exploited the dry conditions to great effect. He trapped Kyle Verreynne leg-before for 10 early in the day and removed Tristan Stubbs for 76 after a defiant 256-minute stay.
Asif completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Harmer lbw for two, while Noman Ali accounted for Marco Jansen in similar fashion for 12.
With two days remaining and spin dominating, the contest remains finely poised, but South Africa will fancy their chances of levelling the series.
