The South African tails fought back strongly on the third day of the Rawalpindi Test, with Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy leading a spirited recovery after debutant Asif Afridi’s five-wicket haul had earlier put Pakistan on top.
The visitors continued at 185-4 and fell to 210-7 as Asif dismantled the middle order. However, Muthusamy and Maharaj showed composure under pressure and added crucial runs to reduce the deficit to below 50 by lunch.
With South Africa 210-7, Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen formed a useful 25-run partnership for the eighth wicket before the former was removed by Noman Ali.
Keshav Maharaj then linked up with Muthusamy, and the pair have added 50 runs so far as Pakistan squandered several chances to secure a substantial lead.
Pakistan dropped three catches and had a big chance when Maharaj and Muthusamy managed to score freely to reduce the deficit.
At lunch on Day 3, the visitors managed to make 285-8 with Muthusamy (48) and Maharaj (23) at the crease.
Meanwhile, Asif got his name registered in cricket history and became the oldest player ever to take a five-wicket haul on his Test debut, achieving the feat after 38 years and 299 days.
Asif broke a 92-year-old record set by England’s Charles Marriott, who took five wickets at 37 years and 332 days on debut against the West Indies at The Oval in 1933.
Ryan Rickelton (14), Aiden Markram (32), Tony de Zorzi (55) and Dewald Brevis (0) were the batters dismissed on Day 2.
Shaheen Afridi, Noman and Sajid Khan also took a wicket each.
Batting first, Pakistan had earlier suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their last five wickets for just 17 runs. From an impressive 316-5, the hosts were bowled out for 333 after a sensational spell from Keshav Maharaj, who claimed all five final wickets.
Pakistan got off to a steady start as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique put on 35 runs for the first wicket before Imam was bowled by Simon Harmer for 17 off 35 balls.
Abdullah Shafique continued calmly, combining aggression with patience to counter South Africa’s bowling.
Captain Shan Masood joined him and showed positive intentions, hitting two towering sixes as Pakistan reached 65-1 after 20 overs. The duo built a 50-run stand before lunch and maintained the momentum.
After the break, both batters guided Pakistan past the 100 mark. Masood reached his 13th Test fifty, while Shafique notched his sixth. Their 111-run partnership for the second wicket ended when Harmer Shafique dismissed for 57 off 146 balls.
Babar Azam contributed 16 off 22 balls before falling to Keshav Maharaj, leaving Pakistan at 167-3. Masood narrowly missed a century, scoring 87 off 176 deliveries with two fours and three sixes.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel added 34 for the fifth wicket before Kagiso Rabada trapped Rizwan lbw for 19, reducing Pakistan to 246-5 in 84.5 overs.
Resuming day two at 259-5, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha stabilized the innings and added 70 for the sixth wicket.
Shakeel brought up his ninth Test fifty while Agha contributed 45 off 76 balls with five boundaries before being dismissed by Maharaj.
Maharaj then struck again, removing Shakeel for a well-crafted 66 off 147 balls.
He continued his dominance by dismissing Shaheen Afridi for a duck to complete his five-wicket haul, and later accounted for Sajid Khan (5) and debutant Asif Afridi as Pakistan were bowled out for 333 in 113.4 overs.
Maharaj finished with excellent figures of 7 for 102, while Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada took a wicket each. For Pakistan, captain Shan Masood top scored with 87, while Saud Shakeel contributed a solid 66.
