KARACHI: An eventful day in Rawalpindi saw a total of 12 wickets falling, which also featured a five-wicket haul from Pakistan’s pacer Hasan Ali but the visiting South Africa has come back in the game by the end of the third day of the second Test.
Hasan Ali starred with the ball for Pakistan on day three with returns of 5/54 but the day finished on a seesaw note.
After Pakistan had South Africa bowled out for 201 in the second session, the visitors’ bowlers fought back. Kagiso Rabada provided the first breakthrough, trapping opener Imran Butt in front for a duck while Keshav Maharaj had Abid Ali caught behind for 13. By the tea break, South Africa had reduced Pakistan to 42/2.
At the start of the evening session, Pakistan lost their skipper Babar Azam, who made an impressive 77 in the first innings, for just 8. Linde struck thrice in the final hours of the day, claiming the big wickets of Azhar Ali (33), Fawad Alam (12), and Faheem Ashraf (29).
Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 28, taking Pakistan to stumps on 129/6, with a healthy lead of 200. Earlier, from the start of day three, Pakistan’s pace bowling combination of Hasan and Shaheen Afridi kept the South Africa batsmen in check.
The visitors resumed the day on 106/4, trailing Pakistan by 166, with skipper Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma in the middle. South Africa lost de Kock early in the third over of the day off Shaheen Afridi, when he inside-edged the ball on to leg stump. He fell for 29, having only added five runs to his overnight score.
In the next over, Bavuma, who was given out LBW to a Hasan Ali delivery, survived. The batsman reviewed the on-field umpire’s decision, and the replays showed an inside edge.
Buvuma kept his cool and batted with patience. In the 33rd over, he was on 20 from 62 balls, and remained on the same score till the start of the 46th over, while his partner, Wiaan Mulder, too batted cautiously.
After a slow start, the duo then started scoring runs at a steady rate, rotating strikes, and also scored boundaries off Nauman Ali. Mulder, who started attacking the Pakistan bowlers, even hit Yasir Shah for a six over long-off, helping South Africa cross the 150-mark.
The partnership was building between the two as they shared a 50-run stand, which was the highest in the innings for South Africa. But two overs later, Mulder, was run-out for 33. George Linde (21) tried to steady the proceedings with Bavuma, but a sensational spell from Hasan saw South Africa bowled out for 201, with Pakistan securing a 71-run first-innings lead.
Bavuma, who remained unbeaten on 44, was his side’s top-scorer in the first innings.