Lahore, October 13, 2025: Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali produced a match-turning spell to wrest back control for the hosts as South Africa closed day two of the first Test at 216 for six in 67 overs, still trailing by 162 runs, at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
Chasing Pakistan’s first-innings total of 378, South Africa began confidently through openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, who weathered the early pace threat before lunch. Markram, having just entered the 3,000 Test-run club, looked solid until Noman Ali struck shortly after the break — removing him for 20 off 37 balls to give Pakistan the breakthrough.
Rickelton then built on the foundation with Wiaan Mulder, who contributed 17 off 41 balls before also falling to Noman, leaving the visitors at 75-2.
The partnership between Tony de Zorzi and Rickelton steadied the innings, with both batters compiling half-centuries. Rickelton reached his maiden Test fifty while de Zorzi, showing fine touch, brought up his third. Together they added 94 runs for the third wicket to lift South Africa to 154-2 in 45 overs.
But once again, Pakistan struck back. Salman Ali Agha broke the threatening stand by dismissing Rickelton for a fluent 71 off 137 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes). That wicket triggered a collapse.
Noman Ali, in scintillating form, dismissed Ryan Rickelton,(8) and Kyle Verreynne (2), while Sajid Khan sent Dewald Brevis back for a first-ball duck. The visitors slumped from 174-3 to 193-5, before de Zorzi (unbeaten on 52) held firm to guide South Africa to stumps at 216-6.
Noman ended the day with impressive figures of 4 for 64, reaffirming his role as Pakistan’s chief weapon on a wearing surface. Sajid Khan and Salman Ali Agha shared the remaining wickets.
Pakistan’s First Innings Anchored by Shan, Imam and Salman
Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 378 in 110.4 overs, thanks largely to an outstanding spell from left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy, who recorded career-best figures of 6 for 117.
After losing Abdullah Shafique (2) early to Kagiso Rabada, skipper Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq rebuilt superbly with a 161-run stand for the second wicket. Imam made a composed 93 off 153 balls, while Shan scored 76 off 147, laced with nine fours and a six.
Babar Azam, who became the first Pakistani and eighth overall batter to cross 3,000 runs in ICC World Test Championship history, added 23 before falling to Simon Harmer.
The middle order faltered briefly, but Mohammad Rizwan (75 off 140) and Salman Ali Agha (93 off 145) counterattacked with a resilient 153-run sixth-wicket partnership, the highest for Pakistan against South Africa at home.
Once Rizwan fell to Muthusamy, the lower order crumbled quickly, with the spinner cleaning up Noman Ali and Sajid Khan for ducks before dismissing Shaheen Afridi (7) to complete his six-wicket haul.
For South Africa, Prenelan Subrayen claimed two wickets, while Rabada and Harmer picked one apiece.
The match remains delicately poised heading into day three, with Pakistan eyeing early wickets to press home their advantage, and South Africa banking on de Zorzi to anchor a fightback.
