A career best bowling performance from Corbin Bosch and a half century from Reeza Hendricks were the star efforts in the Proteas thumping 55-run win over Pakistan in the first KFC T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on Tuesday.

After the visitors set the hosts 195 to win, Bosch was absolutely sublime with the ball, claiming brilliant figures of 4-14 in his four overs, and was backed up well by George Linde (3-31 in three) and Lizaad Williams (2-21 in 3.1) as Pakistan were eventually all out for 139.

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

A commanding all-round performance from #TheProteas Men as they take the opening T20I by 55 runs, going 1-0 up in the series. ⚡️🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/mbyzjmGjFU

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 28, 2025

Batting first the Proteas reached a solid 194-9 in their 20 overs, led by Hendricks who top scored with 60 off 40 balls (5x4; 1x6), while Linde, 36 off 22 (4x4; 1x6) and Tony de Zorzi, 33 off 16 (5x4; 1x6), also made key contributions in what proved to be a comfortable winning total in the end.

“I am very proud of the team effort. I think it was a collective effort in the end. We started really well in the powerplay with the bat, and then finished off the innings with George Linde striking the ball really well,” said Proteas captain Donovan Ferreira.

“We then kept it really simple with the ball, just trying to hit the top of off (stump). We saw what they (Pakistan bowlers) were doing and what was working on the wicket, and we just kept it nice and simple.

“So I was really proud with the way we bowled, but I also thought we put up a really good score up on the board and defended it.”

BRILLIANT BOSCH 

The Pakistan chase was basically a procession as regular wickets throughout meant they were constantly behind the asking rate and couldn’t get close in the end.

It could have been even worse for them, as top scoring opener Saib Ayum, 37 off 28 (1x4; 4x6), was dropped on nought, and No 7 batter Mohammad Nawaz struck a sprightly 36 off 20 (4x4; 2x6) when the game was already done.

Pakistan initially started well, with a 31-run opening stand, but when Williams bowled Sahibzada Farhan (24) at the end of the fifth over, it started the slide.

Bosch then got in on the act, having Babar Azam out for a second-ball duck, caught by Hendricks at cover, and trapped captain Salman Agha (2) LBW, leaving the hosts on 43-3 in the eighth over.

What a performance! ⚡️

Corbin Bosch tore through the Pakistan batting lineup, delivering a crucial match-winning spell! 👏🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/sf9TEG0OBq

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 28, 2025

Ayub and Usman Khan (12) then combined for the biggest partnership of the innings, of 39, which included the opener climbing into Linde who went for 28 in his first 10 balls.

But the spinner then struck back picking up three wickets in seven balls, as Ayub, Khan and Faheem Ashraf (1) all fell, along with Lungi Ngidi bowling Hasan Nawaz (3) among the carnage, as they crashed from 82-3 to 89-7, with the game over as a contest by then.

A sublime showing from George Linde! 💪

An extraordinary all-round performance with bat and ball earns him Player of the Match honours. 🇿🇦🏏

Simply outstanding! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/G9QVE7lJXX

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 28, 2025

FIREWORKS

At the start of play Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl, but a composed half century from Hendricks and some lower-order fireworks from Linde led the Proteas to a very defendable score.

But good fight from Pakistan in the middle overs and at the end, led by Mohammad Nawaz (3-26) and Ayub (2-31_ made sure the Proteas were unable to get over the 200-run mark.

The Proteas' innings got off to a rollicking start thanks to Hendricks and Quinton de Kock, 23 off 13 (5x4), in his second match back in the national team fold, sharing in a 44 run-opening partnership in under four overs, when De Kock sliced an easy catch to point off Ayub to be the first to fall.

De Zorzi was next in and continued the good start, as him and Hendricks combined for a 49-run second wicket stand as the Proteas continued going at more than 10 to the over.

A memorable debut. 💫

Tony de Zorzi made his T20I debut for #TheProteas Men’s team, lighting up Rawalpindi with a fiery 33 in a glimpse of what’s to come! 🇿🇦

An excellent showing from our debutant in the series opener! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Qptulbxi0C

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 28, 2025

However De Zorzi’s wicket, stumped by keeper Khan off the bowling of Mohammad Nawaz in the eight over, with the score 93-2, started a middle innings fightback from the hosts.

Dewald Brevis (9), Matthew Breetzke (1) and Ferreira (10) all fell cheaply, while the run rate also went down, as the Proteas slipped to 139-5 after 14 overs.

Hendricks had been ticking along while watching the carnage, and at that stage had reached a 33-ball 50, when Linde arrived at the crease and proceeded to dominate a quickfire 39-run stand off 21 balls with the opener to set a good platform.

Reeza anchors South Africa's innings with a brilliant 60 off 40 balls 👏👏

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/rrRwxtfeFT

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 28, 2025

But Hendricks's wicket, bowled by Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over, followed by Linde, bowled by Naseem Shah in the next, meant they were unable to fully maximise as just 11 runs came off the final two overs of the innings.

PAKISTAN: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Agha Salman (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

PROTEAS: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

South African skipper Donovan Ferreira said his team will speed up preparation for next year's Twenty20 World Cup, with the series against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi from Tuesday.

South Africa finished runners-up to India in the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup, and will be among the favourites for the coming edition which India and Sri Lanka co-host in February-March.

Ferreira said on Monday that this week's three-match series provides an ideal opportunity.

"It is important to build up towards the World Cup," he said. "I think this is the big stepping stone for us towards the World Cup."

South Africa will miss David Miller – announced captain for this series but ruled out with injury – as well as Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka, who are both injured.

They have rested regular T20I skipper Aiden Markram, batters Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton, and spearhead Kagiso Rabada.

Despite less experience in the side and losing to Namibia earlier this month, Ferreira hopes his team will play an aggressive brand of cricket.

"The Namibia game is past now and I think we need to play an explosive brand of cricket with the bat or with the ball, as we have got exciting players in the side."

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha also sees the series as an opportunity to build towards the World Cup.

"We need to further our preparations and overcome the mistakes we committed in the Asia Cup," said Agha of the regional event last month where they finished runners-up to India.

Agha said he was excited to see star batter Babar Azam back in the T20I side for the first time since December 2024.

"Azam is a world class player and he will benefit our team with his batting," said Agha.

"We have good batters and bowlers in the side so we need to build up towards the World Cup."

The remaining two matches are on Friday and Saturday, both in Lahore.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has thrown his support behind Babar Azam's return to the T20 squad, as the three-match series against South Africa starts in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Azam, 31, has been recalled for the first time since December last year, having previously been dropped due to concerns over his strike rate in the format. But Hesson believes the timing is right for the batsman to make his comeback.

"Yes, I certainly endorse his selection," Hesson said on Sunday. "We have rested Fakhar Zaman for this series, so it was a good opportunity to bring back Azam and I am confident he will do well."

Azam, who captained Pakistan across all formats before stepping down in October 2024, is on the verge of a major milestone. He needs just nine runs to surpass India's Rohit Sharma as the leading run-scorer in T20 internationals. Sharma currently has 4 231 runs from 159 matches, while Azam sits at 4 223 from 128 games.

Hesson, who took charge of the team in May, sees Azam's return as a strategic move ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

"Azam is likely to bat at No 3 and it is a role that I am confident that he will be able to do well and give us some options coming into the World Cup," he said.

Despite South Africa missing several key players, Hesson remains cautious about the threat they pose.

"Look, the squad that South Africa put together is a very dangerous side and we are wary of that," he said, referring to the team captained by Donovan Ferreira.

South Africa will be without key batsman David Miller, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury, and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, sidelined with a pectoral muscle issue. Opener Aiden Markram and paceman Kagiso Rabada have also been rested for the series.

The final two matches of the series will be played in Lahore on Friday and Saturday.

The South African Men’s selection panel today confirmed that Proteas Men’s stand-in T20 International (T20I) captain David Miller and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee have been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan.

Miller, who was set to lead the T20I side in the three-match series from 28 October to 1 November, has been sidelined after scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed he had sustained a grade 1 right hamstring strain during training in the build-up to the tour. He will now begin a phased rehabilitation program.

Coetzee has been ruled out of both the T20I and three-match one-day international (ODI) series, scheduled from 4 - 8 November, due to a pectoral muscle injury.

The 25-year-old sustained the injury while bowling during the one-off T20I against Namibia in Windhoek earlier this month.

Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the injury and following specialist consultation, he has commenced a structured rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Cricket South Africa High Performance and Momentum Multiply Titans medical teams.

Batters Matthew Breetzke (Warriors) and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been added to the T20I squad, while Titans batter Donovan Ferreira will captain the side.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins paceman Ottneil Baartman has been named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad.

Proteas T20I squad against Pakistan

Donovan Ferreira (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province), Quinton de Kock (DP World Lions), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), George Linde (World Sports Betting Western Province), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), and Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans).

Note: The T20I squad will depart for Islamabad from OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, 23 October.

Proteas ODI squad against Pakistan

Matthew Breetzke (captain, Warriors), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province), Quinton de Kock (DP World Lions), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Donovan Ferreira (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), George Linde (World Sports Betting Western Province), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors) and Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans).

Management - ODI series

Wandile Gwavu (Head Coach), Volvo Masubelele (Manager), Imraan Khan (Batting Coach), Piet Botha (Bowling Coach), Brendon Kleynhans (Team Analyst), Dr Salih Solomon (Team Doctor), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Johan Pretorius (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Kyle Botha (Masseur and Logistics), Lucy Davey (Media Manager), and Brian Khonto (Security Officer).

Fixtures

T20I Series

1st T20I - Tuesday, 28 October

Pakistan v South Africa - Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

2nd T20I - Friday, 31 October

Pakistan v South Africa - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

3rd T20I - Saturday, 1 November

Pakistan v South Africa - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

ODI Series

1st ODI - Tuesday, 4 November

Pakistan v South Africa - Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

2nd ODI - Thursday, 6 November

Pakistan v South Africa - Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

3rd ODI - Saturday, 8 November

Pakistan v South Africa - Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Skipper Aiden Markram says lessons learnt from the spin-dominated drawn test series in Pakistan will put South Africa in good stead for their tour of India next month.

South Africa gave Pakistan a taste of their own spin medicine with a clinical eight-wicket drubbing in the second test in Rawalpindi on Thursday, levelling the two-match series 1-1.

The victory gives South Africa an ideal start to the defence of the World Test Championship title they won in June.

The Proteas Men draw their two-match series in Pakistan 🤝#SSCricket | #PAKvSA | #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/tFTLLS6LnY

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 23, 2025

Markram, standing in for injured skipper Temba Bavuma, praised his team's fightback.

"After the first test we were put under pressure and the guys have put their hands up and excelled," said Markram.

South Africa took a good 71-run lead in the first innings of the second test before Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-50 to bowl Pakistan out for a paltry 138 on Thursday.

The visitors knocked off the winning 68-run target for the loss of two wickets on day four.

"We have taken a lot of confidence from this win and we are in a great space to be in as a team, but we are still a work in progress in these conditions as we now head to India."

Simon Harmer cleaned up the Pakistan batting order for figures of 6/50 👏

He joins a very special list 💥#PAKvSA #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/n5NetClqIq

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 23, 2025

South Africa play the first of two tests against India in Kolkata from November 14.

Markram said his spin quartet was up to the challenge.

"The unit out here had quality spinners," said Markram of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen – who between them took 35 of the 40 wickets in the series.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood rued his side's batting in the series.

"There is a lot to work on," said Masood who has now lost ten of the 14 test as skipper.

"The lower order batting, finishing the innings of the opposition, and our third innings batting are not perfect."

He also defended Pakistan's use of spin tracks in home series.

"It has been four wins out of six for us with this plan," said Masood of the last six tests at home, adding: "The wickets have got a little better, they are battable now."

The two teams will now play a three-match Twenty20 series starting in Rawalpindi from Tuesday.

Simon Harmer demolished the Pakistan batting in their second innings to claim 6/50 as South Africa bowled the home team out for 138 before racing to an eight-wicket win as they knocked off the 68 needed for victory in the first session of the fourth day of the second test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

South Africa thus levelled the two-test series 1-1 after Pakistan won the first test in Lahore last week. It was the Proteas' first test win on Pakistani soil since 2007. Keshav Maharaj was made player of the match for his haul of nine wickets while Senuran Muthusamy was made player of the series for his 11 wickets in Lahore and his unbeaten 89 in Rawalpindi.

The Proteas Men draw their two-match series in Pakistan 🤝#SSCricket | #PAKvSA | #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/tFTLLS6LnY

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 23, 2025

Caretaker skipper Aiden Markram described the win as “a really good response to the loss in Lahore. We were put under pressure in this test again and there were moments when the guys had to put their hands up and stand up for the team and they did that. We take a lot of confidence and belief out of winning this test.”

Asked about the “collective effort” of the team, he replied: “It feels that way and it’s a great space for us to be in as a team. We had different conditions here and we’re still a work in progress, but for different players to put up their hands at different times here and in Lahore is a big positive for us and gives us heaps of belief going forward.”

The test, which seemed evenly balanced going into the fourth day, moved forward at breakneck speed in South Africa’s favour in the first session on a worn pitch now taking plenty of turn.

Pakistan resumed their second innings on 94 for four, an overall lead of 23, with popular hero Babar Azam undefeated on 49. Babar’s presence ensured a big crowd – there was also free entry for the match – and they were electrified by their hero nudging a single off Harmer’s second ball to go to his 50, his first in seven test innings.

From there, however, it was all downhill for Pakistan. The offspinner got the big wicket with his fifth ball, trapping Babar leg before with a delivery that kept low and turned sharply into him. The crowd, so noisy on Wednesday evening and before the start of play, were silent as Babar walked off after his failed review (the ball would have hit middle stump).

Babar’s partner, Muhammad Rizwan, was the second wicket to fall in Harmer’s third over, pushing half forward and edging an easy bat-pad chance to Tony de Zorzi at short leg. This was Harmer’s first five-for in tests.

It was to get even better for him as, in his next over, he induced Noman Ali to push forward, the turning ball catching the edge of his bat with wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne pouching the catch. This was his 1000th victim in first-class cricket.

By this stage Pakistan were rocking and it was no surprise that another wicket fell in Kagiso Rabada’s next over, a chaotic runout with Shaheen Shah Afridi caught out of his ground after a direct hit from Ryan Rickelton.

Keshav Maharaj, replacing Harmer, then made another key breakthrough, forcing Salmon Agha to play on trying to cut. Agha had played well against Harmer and Rabada and struck 28 in 42 balls to give Pakistan some hope of setting a target in excess of a hundred. Maharaj then claimed the final wicket when Sajid Khan danced down the pitch and was beaten by the turning delivery, leaving Verreynne with an easy stumping.

Simon Harmer cleaned up the Pakistan batting order for figures of 6/50 👏

He joins a very special list 💥#PAKvSA #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/n5NetClqIq

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 23, 2025

Six wickets had fallen for 44 runs in 14.3 hectic overs and South Africa needed just 68 for victory.

Openers Markram and Rickelton approached their task positively with Markram particularly aggressive against the new-ball spin attack of left-arm spinners Asif Afridi and Noman Ali. Using the sweep, slog-sweep and lofted drive, he cracked eight fours in his innings of 42 off 45 balls before he was leg before sweeping at Noman.

Despite his dismissal, and Tristan Stubbs’ dismissal caught at slip in the same over, the job was effectively done and Rickelton (25*) finished the game off in fine style in the next over from Sajid Khan, crashing his off-drive over the ropes.

Ryan Rickelton wraps it up 🚀

The Proteas Men win their first Test in Pakistan since 2007 to end the two-match series 1-1 🇵🇰🇿🇦#SSCricket | #PAKvSA | #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/z9Tg5CDTY2

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 23, 2025

South Africa’s positive approach to their victory target meant they scored the runs in just 12.3 overs.

Markram’s referral to a collective effort was borne out by the impressive performances by a number of players in the match. Maharaj claimed 7/102 in Pakistan’s first innings, with Harmer the hero in their second knock.

Arguably the key moment in the match, however, was the 98-run 10th wicket partnership by Rabada and Muthusamy in South Africa’s first innings that helped to transform a first innings deficit into a 71-run lead.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada

South Africa enjoyed a momentous day with bat and ball, but Pakistan’s batting star, Babar Azam, remains a hurdle to be overcome after a thrilling third day of the second test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

At the close, Pakistan were 94 for four in their second innings, an overall lead of just 23 runs after South Africa had been dismissed for 404 in their first innings, a lead of 71.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 | 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬

The hosts end the day with a slight lead over the Proteas Men 🤏🔢#PAKvSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/g6m2aQybXm

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 22, 2025

The Proteas started the day under pressure, sank even further in the early going when Pakistan’s 38-year-old left-arm spinner, Asif Afridi, claimed a five-for on debut – the oldest to achieve the feat – then fought back magnificently to take control through the heroics of Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada with the bat, and later on Simon Harmer with the ball.

A superb 10th-wicket partnership of 98 between Muthusamy (89*) and Rabada (71) enabled the Proteas to reach their final total before reducing their opponents to 16 for three and 60 for four in their second innings thanks largely to Harmer’s efforts (3-26 off 13 overs).

Harmer, who took the new ball with Rabada, claimed the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq and skipper Shan Masood, both leg before to arm balls, before sending back Saud Shakeel, deceived through the air with a slow, flighted delivery that he edged to Aiden Markram at slip.

Meanwhile Rabada made his contribution with the wicket of Abdullah Shafique, caught in the gully by Marco Jansen.

Pakistan were rocking, but to their credit they steadied the ship through Babar, who struck a number of classical cover drives in his seven boundaries, finishing unbeaten on 49 in 83 balls at the close with his gritty companion Rizwan on 16.

Pakistan thus finished on 94 for four, 23 runs to the good with six wickets in hand.

RABADA & MUTHUSAMY ROCK

Earlier, Pakistan made an excellent start to the day with Asif Afridi claiming the scalp of Kyle Verreynne in the first over as the left-arm orthodox spinner turned one away sharply from his forward prod, finding the edge of the bat and providing keeper Rizwan with the catch.

Afridi then claimed the key wicket of Tristan Stubbs who was beaten by a faster arm ball, playing on the back foot outside the line of the delivery.

Although he reviewed, replays showed the ball going on to crash into his leg stump. Stubbs had struck a valiant 76 in 205 balls, including six fours and a six.

Harmer came and went, leg before attempting a reverse sweep off Afridi which gave the Pakistani his fifth wicket.

Marco Jansen looked settled, striking Shaheen Shah Afridi for a glorious boundary with the new ball before playing down the wrong line to offspinner Khan and becoming the fourth lbw victim in the innings.

At that stage, South Africa’s arrears were 98 but Maharaj joined Muthusamy and the pair added an excellent 71 for the ninth wicket with Maharaj striking a sprightly 30 before he was stumped going down the pitch to left-arm spinner Noman Ali.

South Africa were still 27 runs in arrears, but the best was yet to come as Rabada, playing like a top-order batter, and Muthusamy took control.

While Muthusamy continued to play steadily, it was Rabada who dominated the action, contributing 71 to the 98-run stand.

The fast bowler, whose undoubted talent with the bat gleams occasionally, turned it on in fine style, smashing four fours and four sixes in his innings.

What was distinctive was the high quality of his shots. One short-arm punch over long-on off pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi ranked as one of the shots of the match, with a number of elegant cover drives also impressing.

It was his first test half-century as well as his highest test score that was only ended on the stroke of tea when he holed out at long-on to give Afridi his sixth wicket for a final analysis of 6-79 in 34.3 overs.

Kagiso 'John Wick' Rabada 💥

A maiden Test 50 👏

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyR504#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/5OQmRCAIpV

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 22, 2025

Muthusamy, who was only given four overs with the ball in the Pakistan first innings, showed the other side of his all-round ability with a commanding innings, striking eight fours in his 155-ball innings, also a test best.

The strength of the South African lower order was illustrated by the fact that the final two partnerships contributed 169 to the total while Pakistan’s tailenders, by contrast, have struggled.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada

Tristan Stubbs kept South Africa in the game, grinding out a gritty unbeaten 68 in 184 balls to enable the Proteas to close on 185 for four wickets in 65 overs in their first innings on the second day of the second test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

That left South Africa trailing their opponents by 148 runs after they had dismissed Pakistan for 333 in the morning, courtesy of a superb 7/102 from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who returned to action with another masterful performance after recovering from a groin injury that kept him out of action in the first test.

In reply, South Africa lost both their openers, Ryan Rickelton (14) and skipper Aiden Markram (32), for 54 runs in the afternoon. Rickelton got a thin edge to a fine delivery from paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi – the ball straightening after angling in to the left-hander – while Markram, attempting to be positive against the accurate Pakistani attack, holed out to long-on in the first over of offspinner Sajid Khan. Markram struck a six and four fours in his innings.

His dismissal brought together Stubbs and the century-maker in Lahore, Tony de Zorzi. Stubbs, in particular, was under pressure having only scored 81 in his last nine test innings. Both men laid down anchor in what turned out to be a battle of attrition. Stubbs took 84 balls to reach 23 at tea while De Zorzi looked solid except for one stroke of luck when debutant left-arm spinner Asif Afridi and the rest of the Pakistan team appealed in vain for a catch at short-leg, not realising that he had trapped De Zorzi in front. They chose not to review the “catch” and therefore were not able to get a second assessment of the lbw.

Stubbs puts his struggles behind him 💪

He brings up his fifty in style with a maximum 🚀

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/vqsyqN5EEP

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 21, 2025

Stubbs and De Zorzi’s half-century partnership came up in 130 balls in the final session and they continued to accumulate with caution although the Pakistani bowlers also found it difficult to get consistent sharp turn from the slow, low pitch. It was only just short of the mid-session drinks break that the pair briefly put their foot down, slamming 14 off an over from Khan – this after Khan had failed to cling onto a tough return catch from Stubbs who belted the ball back at him with ferocious power.

Having averted the follow-on, Stubbs and De Zorzi took their partnership to 113 in 223 balls as they continued to mix obdurate defence with the occasional big blow, before the 38-year-old debutant Afridi claimed his first test wicket, trapping De Zorzi leg before for 55 in 93 balls (1x4, 2x6s).

Dewald Brevis (0) came and went, edging a sharply turning delivery to Salman Agha at slip, to provide Afridi with his second scalp, but Kyle Verreynne (10) kept Stubbs company to the close.

Stumps on Day Two with South Africa trailing by 148 runs 🇵🇰🆚🇿🇦#SSCricket | #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/BzdoNnByMH

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 21, 2025

Earlier, Maharaj, who bowled with superb control, variety and guile, picked up his third seven-for in tests to go with his career-best 9/129 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2018.

Resuming at 259 for five, the Pakistan pair of Saud Shakeel and Agha looked fragile against Kagiso Rabada and Maharaj, bowling with the second new ball that was only seven overs old. But while both bowlers applied pressure, the batters exploited every opportunity to score with Shakeel reaching his 10th test half-century in the fifth over of the morning. The pair reached their 50 partnership in 108 balls and the home team threatened to go deep into the 300s.

But, on the stroke of drinks after an hour’s play, Maharaj made a vital breakthrough when he trapped Agha leg before with his arm ball. He and Shakeel had added 70 in 127 balls for the sixth wicket, building on the foundations created by Abdullah Shafique (57) and Shan Masood (87) before them.

Keshav Maharaj takes 7/102 to knock Pakistan over for 333 🎯💥

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/MeyERuVprG

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 21, 2025

But the Pakistan innings was about to fold with Maharaj taking the last five wickets to fall as the hosts lost five for 17. After their catching problems on Monday, not a chance was frittered away, with Markram claiming two sharp catches at slip, including one to dismiss Shakeel for a well-played 66 (147 balls, 4x4s), while tailenders Shaheen Shah Afridi and Asif Afridi were both bowled trying to slog the left-armer.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has replaced wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan's one-day international captain, the country's cricket board (PCB) said.

Rizwan was appointed white-ball captain in October last year but the side have struggled for consistency under his guidance and failed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. They also suffered a 2-1 loss in West Indies in August.

Pakistan are currently playing a test series against South Africa and will play three ODIs against them next month.

"Shaheen’s appointment for the upcoming series was finalised today following a meeting held in Islamabad, which was attended by white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Director High Performance Aqib Javed and members of the selection committee," the PCB said in a statement late on Monday.

It made no mention of Afridi's tenure.

Afridi also had a brief stint as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain last year but that ended shortly after a 4-1 series defeat in New Zealand.

Pakistan on Monday named fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as skipper for next month's three-match ODI series against South Africa, marking a third change in the format's captaincy in the past 12 months.

The 25-year-old replaced Mohammad Rizwan who took over as ODI skipper last October following Babar Azam's resignation.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Shaheen's appointment came after a meeting in Islamabad.

"A meeting of the selection committee, also attended by Pakistan's white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, decided that Shaheen will lead Pakistan's ODI side against South Africa," said a PCB release.

The three-match ODI series will be played on November 4, 6 and 8 – all in Faisalabad.

Rizwan started off well as ODI skipper with a 2-1 series win, Pakistan's first in Australia in 22 years, in November 2024.

Pakistan then handed South Africa their first 3-0 home whitewash and won 2-1 in Zimbabwe.

But this year Pakistan lost the home tri-series final to New Zealand before crashing out of the Champions Trophy in the first round in February.

But Rizwan's worst came in the West Indies where Pakistan lost 2-1 – their first series loss in the Caribbean for 34 years.

Shaheen previously led Pakistan in five Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand in January last year but was relieved of the role after a 4-1 defeat.

Despite missing a number of chances, South Africa did well to restrict Pakistan to 259 for five in 91 overs on the first day of the second test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was the mainstay for the home team, compiling 87 in 176 balls) while opener Abdullah Shafique contributed a valuable, albeit chancy 57, his sixth test half-century. For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj (2/63) and Simon Harmer (2/75) bowled the bulk of the overs with Kagiso Rabada claiming the late scalp of Muhammad Rizwan with the second new ball.

Pakistan struck the first blow by winning the toss, yet again, giving them the chance of batting first on a pitch that is expected to deteriorate later on. On the whole, however, the strip played pretty well, offering the bowlers, particularly the spinners, relatively little assistance.

South Africa will be pleased that they kept the Pakistan run-rate to below three to the over, unlike in Lahore in the first test, but they will be concerned that they gave the home team’s batters a number of free passes, with opener Abdullah Shafique (57) particularly fortunate, being dropped four times.

The drops started in the first over, with Shafique grassed by Tristan Stubbs in the slips, a relatively routine chance straight to him at knee height.

Shafique doubled up on his luck in the sixth over, delivered by Marco Jansen – who replaced Wiaan Mulder in the Proteas’ team while Maharaj replaced Prenelan Subrayen – the ball just nicking the outside of the right-hander’s off-stump without disturbing the bails. The opener’s third bit of good fortune in the morning occurred when he drove Maharaj uppishly to the spinner’s left, the ball brushing his hands as he dived to take the return catch.

South Africa’s high point in the session came when offspinner Harmer, in his opening over, bowled the perfect delivery to Imam-ul-Haq, the ball pitching on the left-hander’s leg stump before clipping the off. Despite hopes that this might signal a rush of wickets, that ball was one of the few deliveries to deviate from the straight on a pitch that looked better for batting than the surface at Lahore last week.

Skipper Masood, who came in with the score on 35 in the 13th over, took 15 balls to get off the mark but then showed good aggression, twice driving Harmer for sixes over long on and then doing the same to left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy who only bowled four overs in the day, despite taking 11 wickets in Lahore.

Shafique battled through after his scratchy start, reaching 37 in 82 balls at the break while Masood was more positive, striking one four and three sixes in his 38 off 63 balls. The pair had added 60 off 105 balls at lunch.

Shafique’s luck continued to hold after the break. The right-hander edged a round-arm delivery from Maharaj that turned, but wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne’s flailing glove deflected the ball to Aiden Markram at slip who juggled but finally grassed it.

Maharaj was again the loser eight overs later when Shafique danced down the pitch, the ball beating his outside edge as well as the gloves of Verreynne, a clear stumping chance. The left-arm spinner could be forgiven for feeling even more frustrated when yet another opportunity was missed after the drinks break, when Shan Masood top-edged a sweep to Muthusamy at midwicket who dropped a very presentable chance as the ball looped to his right.

But then, finally, the Proteas held on to a couple of chances. The first was a strangle down the leg side off Harmer, with Verreynne taking a good catch to end the stay of Shafique (57 in 146 balls). He and Masood had added an important 111 in 230 balls for the second wicket, giving the Pakistan innings a sturdy foundation.

But from that point on, the South Africans gradually clawed back lost ground. Tony de Zorzi took a fine diving catch at silly mid-off to end an entertaining cameo from Babar Azam who had struck three boundaries in his 22-ball 16 and had looked set to speed up the scoring rate.

Tea was taken with the total on 177 for three with Masood – whose progress had slowed after his bright start – on 77.

Nothing much happened in the first hour of the final session with Masood and Saud Shakeel reduced to taking singles while the spinners toiled with little reward. But then Masood, perhaps frustrated at his slow progress, got a top-edge sweeping at Maharaj, giving Jansen an easy catch at square leg. The skipper had played an important knock, striking two fours and three sixes in his innings.

South Africa slightly delayed taking the new ball but Rabada eventually took it in the 85th over and immediately struck, trapping Muhammad Rizwan leg before for 19. The review questioning the ‘out’ decision was always likely to fail, the ball striking middle and leg halfway up.

Saud Shakeel finished on a useful 42 not out overnight but South Africa will know that the second new ball is only seven overs old and they will hope to keep Pakistan to below 300 on Tuesday on a pitch that may still be good for batting in their first innings.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada

South Africa have been boosted by the return of leading spinner Keshav Maharaj to the team for the second test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi as they seek to level the series, captain Aiden Markram said on Sunday.

Maharaj, 35, was recovering from a groin injury and missed the first test in Lahore, which Pakistan won by 93 runs.

"Obviously, it’s great to have him back in the camp,” Markram told a press conference on Sunday, ahead of Monday’s start of the second test.

“He brings lots of experience and a really good skill set as well, so we're looking forward to this game starting tomorrow, which is an opportunity for us to level the series, but also to keep improving in these conditions and fixing some of the stuff that we feel needs fixing from the first game."

Maharaj’s 203 wickets in 59 tests make him South Africa’s most successful spin bowler.

The clash in Lahore was dominated by the spinners on a slow turning surface, and Markram is expecting the same from the pitch at Rawalpindi.

"We're expecting it to spin. We've expected those types of conditions from day one, and it's about us having done some homework post the first test and coming up with new plans to hopefully counter that and give ourselves a chance of succeeding in these conditions.

"I suppose when you get to spinning conditions, the guessing game is always how long until it really starts to spin exaggeratedly," Markram said.

South Africa had three spinners in their line-up last week, and Maharaj’s return is likely to lead to Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy or Prenelan Subrayen being dropped.

Pakistan’s victory in Lahore ended a 10-match winning streak in test cricket for South Africa.

Shaheen Afridi claimed three of the last four wickets to help dismiss South Africa for 183 in their second innings and bowl Pakistan to a 93-run victory an hour after lunch on the fourth day of the first test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.

South Africa took lunch on 137-6 with all realistic hopes of chasing 277 for victory having disappeared in the morning session and the tall left-arm fast bowler made sure of victory in emphatic fashionby trapping Kyle Verreynne (19) lbw before clean bowling Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada.

Shaheen Afridi cleans up the tail as Pakistan take a 1-0 series lead ✅🇵🇰#SSCricket | #PAKvSA | #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/jkwtAj5oOK

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 15, 2025

Dewald Brevis scored a dazzling, run-a-ball 54 in the morning session to briefly raised the tourists expectations but the writing was on the wall when Afridi pinned Tony de Zorzi (16) lbw with the third ball of the day on his way to figures of 4-33.

Resuming on 51-2 the Proteas hopes lay with first innings centurion, de Zorzi, and opener Ryan Rickelton but it was not to be. Tristan Stubbs (2) reverse-swept left arm spinner Noman Ali straight to Salman Agha at slip – just the eighth ball of his innings – and Brevis was bowled by a beauty from Noman which pitched on leg stump and hit the top of off.

💥Reverse SWING masterclass! Shaheen Afridi wraps it up — 🇵🇰 start their WTC cycle with a statement 🔥#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen pic.twitter.com/nvhGF1gyUe

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 15, 2025

Brevis counter-attacked in brilliant style twice driving Noman for straight sixes and adding half a dozen fours on both sides of the wicket but had no answer to a delivery which would have bowled most right handers.

Rickelton’s long, defensive vigil came to an end with an edge against offspinner Sajid Khan (2-38) which was well caught low to the ground by Salman Agha, his fifth slip catch of the match.

Noman’s 4-79 at the break gave him his third 10-wicket haul in just 21 test matches, a remarkable start to a belated career for the 39-year-old.

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

South African captain, Aiden Markram, bemoaned the inability of the top order to make big enough scores on an awkward pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore as the home side bowled the tourists out for 183 in their second innings to win the first test by 93-runs inside four days on Wednesday.

The exception in the first innings was Tony de Zorzi whose 104 helped South Africa to a total of 269 but the first innings deficit of 109 was to prove fatal despite an outstanding performance from left arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy who claimed a match haul of 11-174.

“He was exceptional – if you watch him behind the scenes he works really hard, bowls a lot of balls and takes his practice really seriously so no surprise that he’s reaping the rewards out there in the middle. I’m so pleased for him that he could have this game,” Markram said.

But it was the lack of runs which cost South Africa the chance to begin the defence of their World Test Championship title with a victory and Markram included himself in his criticism.

“Quite a few of us made good starts but we weren’t able to push on and get the big scores which make a difference, apart from Tony in the first innings. When you get in, especially in tricky conditions like these, you’ve got to on and make it count,” Markram said.

As for the eyebrow-raising selection of three specialist spinners compared to the two which Pakistan opted for, the Proteas captain said he was happy with having just two seamers in Kagiso Rabada and Wiann Mulder – although Mulder bowled just two overs in the entire test match.

“I’m not sure what conditions will be like in Rawalpindi but I can’t see it being too different from this,” Markram said with a wry smile. “There was a lot of assistance for the spinners, obviously, so it was a nicely balanced team I felt. But we’ll have to get to ‘Pindi and see what it looks like there,” Markram said.

Pakistan captain, Shan Masood, was understandably delighted with the result and his team’s performance but paid tribute to the tenacity of the South Africans: “As I said before the series started, they are a great measuring stick for us being the world test champions, they kept coming back at us when we had the chance to get away, but that’s what champions do, they never give up,” Masood said.

“But also kept going and managed to build up enough of a margin to win and I’m just pleased that we managed to finish it off.”

Masood had high praise for his two spinners, offspinner Sajid Khan who claimed five wickets and 39-year-old left armer Noman Ali whose match haul of 10-191 was his third 10-wicket haul in the 21 tests of his belated career.

“They were outstanding, Sajid has been unlucky with injuries but he bowled 50 overs here and he was unlucky not to have taken more wickets but Noman, Noman is Noman,” Masood said with a shake of his head.

Apart from De Zorzi South Africa can be grateful for the form of opener Ryan Rickelton who oozed class during innings of 71 and 45 and for the promise of Dewald Brevis who counter-attacked in dazzling style on the final day with a run-a-ball 54 including two straight driven sixes off Noman before receiving an unplayable ball from the left hander which pitched on leg stump and hit the top of off stump.

The second test begins at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Tony de Zorzi (104) completed a fine century before South Africa were dismissed for 269 in their first innings to concede a deficit of 109 and will require another 226 runs in their second for an unlikely victory against Pakistan in the first test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.

Sixteen wickets fell on the day, 15 to spin, as Senuran Muthusamy added 5-57 to his first innings haul of 6-117 to help dismiss Pakistan for 167 in their second innings, leaving South Africa with a fourth innings target of 277.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 | 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐬

An action-packed day ends with South Africa on the chase ⏩

The Proteas need 226 runs to secure the victory 🇿🇦#PAKvSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/gp6GztN0FG

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 14, 2025

A Test match to remember for Senuran Muthusamy! 🌟

A brilliant 10-wicket haul in Lahore; simply outstanding! 🇿🇦🤩 pic.twitter.com/qiIvBr4qJy

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 14, 2025

They were 51-2 at the close of the third day with Ryan Rickelton (29*) and De Zorzi (16*) at the crease. Offspinner Simon Harmer claimed 4-51.

The tourists resumed their first innings on 216 for six with De Zorzi on 81 but could add only 53 for the final four wickets, with left hander De Zorzi’s brave attempt to accelerate leading to his downfall as he holed out to long on against left-arm spinner Noman Ali who claimed a well-deserved 6-112.

De Zorzi faced 171 deliveries collecting 10 fours and two sixes.

Tony de Zorzi cooking is in Lahore 👨‍🍳

He grinds to his second Test century 🇿🇦

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/29nEUBvkwm

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 14, 2025

South Africa’s own left-armer, Muthusamy, was the first wicket to fall in the morning session, edging offspinner Sajid Khan to slip for 11.

Prenelan Subrayen (4) edged Noman to the same fielder in the same position and Kagiso Rabada was bowled by offspinner Sajid Khan (3-98), leaving Harmer unbeaten on a doughty 19 from 36 balls with two fours.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Opener Abdullah Shaffique (41) and Babar Azam (42) guided their team to the verge of impregnability at 119 for three and a lead of 228 with seven wickets in hand, but some reckless batting against disciplined spin bowling saw them lose 7-48 to give the tourists an outside chance on a rapidly deteriorating pitch offering lavish turn with low and unpredictable bounce.

Shaffique clipped, drove and cut six fours from 73 balls before a thunderous straight drive against Muthusamy was remarkably caught by the bowler while Babar faced 72 balls with five fours before Kagiso Rabada (1-33) trapped him lbw with a reversing inswinger.

Saud Shakeel, too, made a promising start before hoisting Muthusamy to Tristan Stubbs on the deep midwicket boundary to depart for 38 from 53 balls (7x4) in the final over before the tea break.

𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 🫡🪄

Muthusamy collects five more wickets in the second innings 🇿🇦💥

📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/Y4GgcWFYhi

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 14, 2025

Harmer claimed two quick wickets shortly before lunch to offer the Proteas a door back into the test match, a door that should have been firmly shut on a threadbare pitch deteriorating by the hour.

Harmer was given the new ball along with Rabada and struck immediately when Imam-ul-Haq bizarrely charged out of his crease to play a defensive shot and was comfortably stumped by Kyle Verreynne for a second ball duck.

Captain Shan Masood was equally well beaten by Harmer’s quicker ball which kept low and hit him on the back leg in front of leg stump.

Masood’s review revealed the ball to be just clipping leg stump, much to his disgust.

South African captain Aiden Markram (3) was bowled by Noman with an hour’s play remaining and Wiaan Mulder edged the same bowler to slip while attempting to leave his third ball but Rickelton, who made a fluent 71 in the first innings, and De Zorzi took the score from 18 for two to 51 for two to revive hopes.

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

Senuran Muthusamy claimed career-best figures of 6-117 to bowl Pakistan out for 378 on the stroke of lunch, having resumed on 313-5 on the second day of the first test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

South Africa will resume on the third morning with Tony de Zorzi in the midst – he will hope – of an excellent innings currently worth 81* from 140 balls (9x4, 1x6) in the company of Muthusamy the batter on six not out. The deficit is currently 162 runs on a rapidly deteriorating pitch. The tourists are currently coming second in the test match, by a distance.

Muthusamy claimed two wickets in two balls for the second time in the innings and three in an over to reduce the hosts from 362-5 to 362-8 having also lost three wickets on the same total on day one when they slipped from 199-2 to 199-5.

Rizwan counter-attacked in fine style reaching 75 from 140 balls (2x4, 2x6) before Muthusamy spun one fiercely to find the right hander’s edge with ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne claiming an excellent catch.

Left-hander Noman was clean bowled two balls later and Sajid Khan could only edge the next delivery into the hands of Markram at slip. Muthusamy wasn’t finished however with fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s wild swipe gifting him a sixth well-deserved wicket.

Salman Agha, dropped on 36 by Markram on day one, resumed on 52 and batted faultlessly to reach 93 from 145 balls with five fours and three sixes before attempting a fourth six against offspinner Prenelan Subrayen (2-78) and holing out to long on where Muthusamy, appropriately, held the catch.

South Africa, too, were well placed at 174-2 after a positive third wicket partnership of 94 between Ryan Rickelton and de Zorzi but wickets fall in clusters on dry pitches offering lavish turn and the tourists lost 4-26 in 10 overs to slip to 200-6.

Rickelton had converted both of his previous two test 50s into centuries but he edged part-time offspinner Salman low to Babar Azam at slip to depart for 71 from 137 balls with nine fours and two slog-swept sixes against left-arm spinner Noman.

Tristan Stubbs (8) never settled before edging Noman to ‘keeper Rizwan, and Dewald Brevis clipped his first delivery straight to short wicket for the tamest of dismissals. Kyle Verreynne (2) missed a sweep against Noman and then reviewed the lbw which was crashing into the middle of middle stump.

De Zorzi enjoyed some early fortune with two edges off seamer Hasan Ali flying between slip and gully – he was also given out lbw to offspinner Sajid Khan for 23 but escaped on review with the ball pitching fractionally outside leg stump. But he also played some delightful shots including a bold slog-sweep for six, against the spin, off Sajid.

Earlier Aiden Markram (20) and Wiaan Mulder (17) both edged the excellent Noman to Rizwan who handled the uneven bounce superbly behind the stumps.

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

In a gripping display of spin bowling mastery, Senuran Muthusamy ripped through Pakistan’s batting line-up on day two of the first test in Lahore, claiming a sensational 6-wicket haul that breathed life into South Africa’s campaign.

With the hosts looking well-set at 278-4 and threatening to post a mammoth first-innings total, Muthusamy stepped up with a spell that will be remembered for its precision, patience, and punch. The left-arm spinner exploited the wearing surface with guile and control, triggering a collapse that saw Pakistan lose their final six wickets for just 100 runs.

A brilliant spell from Senuran Muthusamy! 🔥

A career-best effort with a maiden five-for, marking the third-best Test figures by a South African in Pakistan. 🇿🇦👏 pic.twitter.com/yck5r99adp

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 13, 2025

His first breakthrough came with a sharp turner that trapped Saud Shakeel plumb in front. From there, it was a procession. He outfoxed the dangerous Agha Salman with flight, had Faheem Ashraf caught at slip with a beauty that gripped and bounced, and cleaned up the tail with ruthless efficiency.

Muthusamy’s final figures of 6 for 117 marked his best in test cricket and a career-defining performance under pressure. More than just numbers, it was the timing of his strikes that shifted momentum. Each wicket chipped away at Pakistan’s confidence, and by the time the innings folded at 378, South Africa had clawed their way back into the contest.

Senuran Muthusamy bags himself a maiden Test five-for and the third best Test figures in Pakistan for a South African 🇿🇦#SSCricket #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/65m1QNXVvq

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 13, 2025

The Proteas’ fielders rallied behind their spinner, with sharp catches and vocal support, turning the heat up on a Pakistan side that had looked in control for much of the innings.

As the players walked off, it was Muthusamy who led them, ball in hand, a quiet storm who had just shaken the foundations of Pakistan’s batting fortress.

Pakistan lost three wickets without scoring a run but book-ended the mini collapse with partnerships of 161 and 114* to finish the first day well placed at 313-5 in the first test against South Africa at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq (93) and captain Shan Masood (76) brushed off the loss of Abdullah Shaffique (2) to the third ball of the match and took the score to 163-1 before Masood was trapped lbw by offspinner Prenelan Subrayen (20-0-72-1) with Imam and Babar Azam taking the total to 199-2.

But the tourists bounced firmly back into the contest with three quick wickets either side of the tea break and were themselves superbly placed with the home side faltering at 199-5.

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (62*) and allrounder Salman Agha (52*) then guided the home to a daunting total by the close of play on a dry, cracked and grassless pitch which was offering generous turn from the outset and is expected to deteriorate quickly as the test continues.

Kagiso Rabada (13-2-43-1) trapped Shaffique lbw with one of the few deliveries which deviated for him throughout the day but, by and large, the second wicket partnership was untroubled as South Africa’s spinners were unable to apply pressure with consistent lengths with Pakistan reaching 107-1 at lunch.

The final two deliveries before tea, however, brought two wickets for left arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy (26-5-101-2) with left-hander Imam well caught at short leg by Tony de Zorzi after facing 153 balls (7x4, 1x6) and Saud Shakeel (0) nervously prodding a return catch to the bowler off a leading edge.

Shortly after the break Babar was pinned lbw by the impressive Simon Harmer (28-5-75-1) and South sensed they were just one wicket away from opening up the tail. It never happened despite batting conditions becoming noticeably more difficult even through the course of a single day.

Imam was dropped by Wiaan Mulder at mid off from the bowling of Subrayen shortly after reaching his 50, de Zorzi grassed a sharp chance at short leg to reprieve Masood off the same bowler and captain Aiden Markram missed Salman at slip off Muthusamy on 36 – all chances which might have made the day look significantly different.

Rabada (11-2-39-1) is effectively South Africa’s only fast bowler with Wiaan Mulder (2-0-13-0) bowling just two innocuous overs with the new ball before the spinners took over – Marco Jansen was omitted from the starting XI along with David Bedingham in favour of Dewald Brevis who is a renown player of spin bowling.

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram said home side Pakistan were well within their rights to prepare extreme turning wickets for their two-test series, which starts in Lahore on Sunday, as they did last year to beat England.

Their 2-1 series win over England a year ago came after they had used a pair of giant windbreaks, two outsized fans and six patio heaters to accelerate the deterioration of the pitch and create a surface that offered spinners maximum turn and grip.

It was a successful ploy as they came back from losing the first test to trump England in conditions that losing captain Ben Stokes called “pretty extreme”.

But Markram, who leads South Africa in place of injured skipper Temba Bavuma, said that was all part of the challenge.

“We saw how things turned out in the English series,” he told a press conference on Saturday. “That was obviously Pakistan's way of trying to win, and it's completely fair, and we look forward to that challenge.”

South Africa had worked hard in preparing, he added, creating wickets with extreme spin to practice on at a training camp before their departure.

“That's where most of the focus has been, naturally looking forward to the challenges that Pakistan pose in terms of spin-friendly tracks.

“As a team that's not exposed to those conditions, it's exciting for us and a great opportunity to get things right in these conditions. We're trying to put a lot of the focus there, and ultimately put five days of good cricket together for the first test.”

Besides Bavuma, South Africa must do without their lead spinner Keshav Maharaj, who misses the first test as he recovers from a groin strain.

“We’ll miss Kesh heaps,” Markram told reporters. “He's incredible, even when the ball doesn't spin, so it's a big loss for us but it's an opportunity for two or three other new spinners of ours to put their hand up and stake a claim, which is really exciting.”

Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer, who last played a test two years ago, are likely to be in the team.

Teenage left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been ruled out of South Africa’s one-off Twenty20 international against Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday and their entire white ball tour to Pakistan after being sidelined with a hamstring strain.

The 19-year-old has been replaced in the squad to face Namibia and the T20 series against Pakistan by seamer Ottneil Baartman. Lizaad Williams is his replacement for the one-day internationals on the subcontinent.

Maphaka was injured in a domestic four-day fixture last week and subsequent medical assessments indicated a Grade 1-2 injury which will require rehabilitation over the next four weeks.

South Africa play three T20s in Pakistan between October 28-November 1, and three ODIs from November 4-8.