Resuming the third day on 82, Tony de Zorzi was ebullient on his way to three figures but fell soon after in the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa at Lahore. The rest of the South African lower order failed to show to stomach for a fight as the Proteas were bundled out for 269 having added only 53 runs to their overnight tally. Noman Ali, who scalped two additional wickets in the morning, finished with classy figures of 6-112 as Pakistan earned a 109-run lead.
“I don’t think there is one secret. Everyone has their own way of playing. On a surface like this, you just have to trust. You can’t be doubtful,” De Zorzi told a press conference. “It’s tough for the new guy to come in; it’s tough for him to get into a rhythm. The spinners on each side are pretty good and these are favourable conditions.”
The second innings of Pakistan, though, went haywire. Imam-ul-Haq, who scored 93 in the first innings, was out stumped for a two-ball duck to Simon Harmer in the second over. Harmer dealt another blow before Lunch, dismissing Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood to leave the hosts in a spot of bother on 36/2.
Upon resumption, Abdullah Shafique, who’d batted well for his 41, failed to convert his start and was out returning a catch to Senuran Muthusamy. With the pitch serving the cocktail of turn and bounce, the South African spinners continued to pose problems albeit there was a period of relative stability for Pakistan when Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel occupied the crease. The duo shared a 55-run stand with Babar in particular looking like a million dollar. He struck a hat-trick of fours off Muthusamy before Kagiso Rabada removed him in the very next over. The end of the second session was marked by Shakeel squandering his wicket. Well-set at the crease owing to his 38, Shakeel holed out to deep mid-wicket attempting a slog-sweep.
Pakistan then suffered a catastrophic collapse at the beginning of the third session as they lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs in a matter of 6.3 overs. Muthusamy starred once again as he arrested another five-wicket haul while Harmer ended with four in his kitty.
Set 277 to win, South Africa’s openers started on a watchful note. Noman Ali struck for Pakistan in the sixth over by castling Aiden Markram and he returned to claim his second wicket by nicking Wiaan Mulder off to slip just an over later. The left-handed pair of Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi then demonstrated compact technique and temperament as they safely took South Africa through to stumps. Pakistan did offer Rickelton a life though as Shafique dropped him at short-leg.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 378 & 167 (Babar Azam 42; Senuran Muthusamy 5-57, Simon Harmer 4-51) lead South Africa 269 & 51/2 (Ryan Rickelton 29*; Noman Ali 2-20) by 226 runs
