All eyes on Babar, Rizwan as South Africa roar back into contention

ISLAMABAD: All eyes are on Babar Azam (49 not out) to rescue Pakistan from what turned out to be a day of tactical misjudgments and missed opportunities that allowed South Africa to roar back into contention on the third day of the second Test at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Wednesday.

From a position of dominance early in the day, Pakistan now find themselves precariously placed at 94 for 4, leading by only 23 runs with six wickets in hand. Standing tall amid the chaos is Babar, who will resume alongside Mohammad Rizwan (16 not out) as Pakistan cling to hopes of salvaging the Test and perhaps the series momentum.

What unfolded through the middle session was nothing short of staggering. South Africa, reeling at 235 for 8, mounted a breathtaking lower-order fightback that saw them add 169 runs for the last two wickets, a partnership flurry that turned the match on its head. The visitors were finally bowled out for 404, seizing a crucial 71-run first-innings lead over Pakistan, who had managed 333 earlier.

For much of the morning, it looked like Pakistan’s spinners would run through the tail. The pitch was wearing down, the ball keeping low, and Asif Afridi the debutant hero was weaving his magic. Then, a curious decision from captain Shan Masood to take the new ball opened the floodgates.

What followed was a counter-attack of pure audacity. Senuran Muthusamy (89 not out), batting with composure and class, found an able ally in Kagiso Rabada (71), who unleashed a furious assault, hammering four sixes and as many fours in a 98-run last-wicket stand that left Pakistan stunned.

“We just wanted to take it session by session,” said Muthusamy after play. “When Rabada came in, the message was simple play positive cricket and make every run count. We knew if we crossed 400, we’d be right back in the contest.”

Rabada, whose knock came at better than a run a ball, epitomized that intent. When Asif Afridi (6-79) finally ended his onslaught, Pakistan’s shoulders had already dropped. Muthusamy, 11 runs short of a maiden Test hundred, walked off unbeaten but victorious in spirit, his 155-ball vigil, decorated with eight boundaries, tilting the Test decisively.

Before that, Keshav Maharaj (30) had played his part, combining with Muthusamy to post a 71-run ninth-wicket stand that sucked the energy out of Pakistan’s attack. A couple of dropped chances only deepened Pakistan’s woes, as the tourists reached 285 for 8 at lunch, and from there, never looked back.

“We let them off the hook,” admitted a visibly disappointed Shan Masood later. “At 210 for 7, we should have wrapped them up under 250. The momentum shifted completely in that one session.”

Earlier in the day, debutant Asif Afridi continued his dream run, striking early to remove Kyle Verreynne (10) and later trapping Tristan Stubbs (76), who had held South Africa’s innings together with a defiant 205-ball stay. Stubbs’ gritty knock, laced with six fours and a six, was crucial in setting up the late surge.

Asif’s magical spell earned him a place in the record books, becoming the second Pakistani left-arm spinner after Noman Ali to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut, and the oldest debutant to do so at nearly 39 years of age, surpassing England’s Charles Marriott, who was just shy of 38 when he achieved the feat in 1933.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Asif. “But I’d have loved it more if we had them all out earlier. Test cricket is about persistence, and they showed that today.” Now, all hopes rest on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to script yet another rescue act. With the top order collapsing cheaply, Imamul Haq (9), Shan Masood (0), Abdullah Shafique (6), and Saud Shakil (11) all perishing to poor shot selection, Pakistan need their most reliable pair to rebuild.

Score: Pakistan 333 all out in in 113.4 overs (Shan 87, Saud Shakil 66, Abdullah 57, Salman Agha 45, Saud 42 not out, Keshav Maharaj 7-102, Harmer 2-75) and 94 for 4 in 36 overs (Babar Azam 49 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 16 not out, Simon Harmer 3-16). South Africa 404 all out in 119.3 overs (Senuram Muthusamy not out 89, Tristan Stubbs 76, Kagiso Rabada Tony de Zorzi 55, Asif Afridi 6-79)