South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, taking seven wickets to dismantle Pakistan for 333 on Day 2 of the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, started confidently but suffered a dramatic collapse in the morning session, losing their last five wickets for only 25 runs.
Strong Start Turns Sour
Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq provided a cautious start, frustrating South Africa’s seamers early on. Shafique compiled a gritty 57 off 146 balls, while skipper Shan Masood led from the front with a composed 87 off 176 deliveries, including three sixes.
Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel added stability with 66 runs from 147 balls, and Salman Agha chipped in with 45, guiding Pakistan past the 300-run mark. However, the lower order crumbled under Keshav Maharaj’s relentless spin assault just before lunch.
Maharaj’s Magical Spell
It was truly Keshav Maharaj’s day. The experienced spinner exploited the Rawalpindi surface perfectly, mixing flight, dip, and sharp turn to claim 7 wickets for 102 runs in 42.4 overs — one of his best overseas Test performances.
He received valuable support from Simon Harmer, who took 2 for 75, while Kagiso Rabada dismissed wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for 19. Maharaj’s scalps included key players like Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Sajid Khan, and Asif Afridi, ensuring Pakistan’s innings ended abruptly.
Pakistan’s Late-Order Collapse
At 316/5, Pakistan seemed poised for a 400-plus total. But once Salman Agha was trapped lbw by Maharaj, the innings unraveled quickly. The last five wickets fell for just 17 runs within eight overs, exposing Pakistan’s struggles against top-quality spin.
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 333 in 113.4 overs. South Africa now looks to mount a strong first-innings response on a pitch already showing signs of turn and uneven bounce — conditions that could keep both spinners and fast bowlers in play.
In other news read more about Why Shaheen Shah Afridi Is News Pakistan’s ODI Captain; Rizwan Steps Down!
Score Summary
Top Scorers: Shan Masood 87, Saud Shakeel 66, Abdullah Shafique 57, Salman Agha 45
Best Bowling: Keshav Maharaj 7/102, Simon Harmer 2/75, Kagiso Rabada 1/60
