Pakistan seized full control of the ongoing first Test at Gaddafi Stadium after a dramatic final session on Day 2, which saw South Africa collapse from 174/2 to 200/6, still trailing by 162 runs.
After a strong first session where Pakistan were bowled out for 378, it was South Africa’s turn to respond — and while they showed early resilience, the final session turned into a nightmare for the visitors.
Senuran Muthusamy was the standout performer, claiming three wickets in a single over, including that of Mohammad Rizwan (75) and two tailenders — sealing a brilliant six-wicket haul.
Salman Ali Agha, who looked set for a century, was dismissed for 93, while the rest of the tail offered little resistance.
Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi stood firm during the middle session, stabilizing the innings after early blows. Rickelton’s composed knock and de Zorzi’s recovery from a nervous start gave South Africa hope, taking them to 174/2 at one stage.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically after Rickelton’s dismissal, triggering a batting collapse. In just a few overs, South Africa lost four crucial wickets, tumbling to 200/6 by stumps — undoing all the hard work earlier in the day.
With South Africa still 162 runs behind, Pakistan is firmly in the driver’s seat. Their bowlers, especially Nauman Ali, capitalized on deteriorating pitch conditions, and their relentless pressure proved too much for the Proteas middle order.
