The second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi was a story of spin dominance and gritty batting. Pakistan appeared to have seized control after posting 333 in their first innings, but Keshav Maharaj ripped through the hosts with a remarkable seven‑wicket haul. Bowling around the wicket into the rough, the left‑arm spinner dismissed Salman Agha and Saud Shakeel early on Day 2 before running through the tail. Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs, and the collapse left the match finely balanced. Maharaj’s figures of 7 for 90 were his best overseas and emphasised South Africa’s reliance on spin in Asia.
At 42 for 2 in reply, South Africa were in trouble until Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs dug in. The pair weathered intense pressure from spinners Nauman Ali and Afridi, adding 113 runs for the third wicket. They used their feet to negate spin, swept and cut whenever bowlers erred and left balls outside off. Pakistan missed an LBW review that would have removed de Zorzi early; the left‑hander went on to complete a half‑century. Stubbs, batting at No. 4, displayed immense patience, occupying the crease for over four hours to finish 68*. Their stand frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers and shifted momentum. The day ended with South Africa at 185 for 4, trailing by 148 but with a platform to push for a lead.
The match illustrated how attritional Test cricket can be enthralling even on slow pitches. Pakistan had looked set to build a substantial first‑innings total when Masood and Abdullah Shafique added 111 for the second wicket, but tight bowling from Simon Harmer and Maharaj induced errors. The home side’s inability to rotate strike against spin – despite the experience of Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed – exposed a weakness in their game. Conversely, de Zorzi and Stubbs showcased the virtues of playing late and waiting for loose deliveries. Maharaj’s success also raised the debate about how visiting teams should prepare for Asian tours, with South Africa’s spinners now matching Pakistan’s for accuracy and menace.
Beyond the match itself, the narrative was about resilience. South Africa had been thrashed by 93 runs in Lahore and risked surrendering the series. Maharaj, returning from injury, delivered a spell reminiscent of his six‑for at Lord’s in 2022. “He was phenomenal. He has grown up on wickets like these,” captain Aiden Markram said. For Pakistan, the late wickets on Day 2 – courtesy of Afridi’s first Test dismissal and the removal of Brevis – gave them a slight edge going into Day 3. Ultimately the match ended in a hard‑fought draw, with both teams taking positives and acknowledging that spin and patience remain central to Test cricket on the subcontinent.
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