Rawalpindi: The opening day of the second and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa came to a close with Pakistan reaching 259 for 5 at stumps, after a steady display of batting at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Winning the toss, Pakistan captain Shan Masood opted to bat first on a pitch that looked promising for batsmen but offered some turn for the spinners as the day progressed. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq opened the innings with a confident start, playing carefully against the new ball.
However, Pakistan suffered an early blow when Imam-ul-Haq was bowled by Simon Harmer for 17 runs. Abdullah Shafique continued to bat with patience and fine timing, completing a fluent 57-run innings before falling to South African bowling pressure.
Babar Azam, batting at number four, once again fell cheaply, scoring only 16 runs before being dismissed by Keshav Maharaj. His wicket brought captain Shan Masood to the crease, who played a composed and determined innings, anchoring Pakistanâs batting lineup.
Masood looked in fine touch, driving elegantly through the covers and rotating the strike with ease. He went on to score a superb 87 runs, showing leadership and discipline before being dismissed just short of a deserved century. Mohammad Rizwan added 19 runs before falling to Maharaj.
By the end of play, Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 42, while Agha Salman was not out on 10, guiding Pakistan safely to 259 for 5. The partnership between Shakeel and Salman provided much-needed stability after a few quick dismissals in the middle order.
For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer were the standout performers with the ball, taking two wickets each, while Kagiso Rabada claimed one. Their consistent line and length kept the Pakistani batters from scoring freely during crucial phases of the game.
Pakistan made one change to their lineup for this Test, handing a Test debut to Asif Afridi, who replaced Hasan Ali. Shaheen Shah Afridi presented Asif with his Test cap before the match, marking a memorable moment for the left-arm spinner, who is making his debut at 38 years and 299 days, one of the oldest debutants in Pakistanâs Test history.
Pakistan currently lead the two-match Test series 1â0 after defeating South Africa by 93 runs in the Lahore Test. With a solid start in Rawalpindi, the hosts will look to maintain their dominance and secure a series victory.
The Pakistan playing XI comprised: Shan Masood (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Asif Afridi.
The South Africa playing XI included: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Mthokozisi Ntuli (Mathusamy), Keshav Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada.
