1st Time In 18 Years, Pakistan Lose A Test Match Against South Africa In… | Cricket News

Pakistan lose 2nd Test against South Africa by 8 wickets in Rawalpindi. (Picture Credit: AP)

South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday, leveling the series 1-1 with Simon Harmer securing a maiden five-wicket haul. The 36-year-old off-spinner achieved figures of 6-50, taking his 1,000th first-class wicket on a deteriorating Rawalpindi stadium pitch.

South Africa chased down the 68-run target for the loss of captain Aiden Markram (42) and Tristan Stubbs (0), both dismissed by spinner Noman Ali, who finished with 2-40.

Ryan Rickelton, who scored 25 not out, hit Sajid Khan for a six to secure an emphatic win minutes before the lunch break for the World Test Championship holders.

The win on Thursday helped South Africa beat Pakistan in a Test match played in Pakistan after more than 18 years.

Result of Test matches played between Pakistan and South Africa in Pakistan

In another contest dominated by spinners, Pakistan managed 333 in their first innings before South Africa’s tail-end batsmen helped them amass 404 for a crucial 71-run lead.

Spinners claimed 34 of the 40 wickets to fall in the first Test in Lahore, which Pakistan won by 93 runs.

Thursday’s morning session saw Pakistan’s batters collapse, adding just 44 runs after resuming the fourth day at 94-4.

Harmer dashed Pakistan’s hopes of saving the Test by trapping Babar Azam leg-before with the fifth ball of the day after the batsman had reached his 30th Test half-century.

Pakistan’s hopes hinged on Azam breaking his century drought, having not scored a ton since December 2022.

His lean spell continues.

Nine runs later, Harmer had Mohammad Rizwan caught by close-in fielder Tony de Zorzi for 18.

In his next over, the spinner dismissed Noman for nought, caught behind for Harmer’s 1,000th wicket in his 235th first-class match.

Harmer is the fourth South African to take 1,000 or more first-class wickets, following Mike Procter (1,417), Allan Donald (1,216), and Charlie Llewellyn (1,013).

Harmer’s previous best figures of 4-51 came in the first Test in Lahore.

Unlike South Africa, Pakistan’s tail did not last long as they lost their last five wickets for just 33 runs in their second innings, marking yet another batting slump in the series.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was run out without scoring, while Keshav Maharaj dismissed Salman Agha for 28 and Sajid Khan for 13 to swiftly wrap up the innings.

Maharaj finished with 2-34, adding to his 7-102 in the first innings.

(With inputs from AFP)