Pakistan lead by 145 runs as South Africa fight back in Lahore Test Pakistan faced early trouble in their second innings on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, losing two wickets before lunch despite holding a 109-run first-innings lead.
After bowling out South Africa for 269, Pakistan began their second innings in the morning but suffered a setback when opener Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for a duck by Simon Harmer with the score on just two.
Shan Masood (7) joined Abdullah Shafique to build a 31-run stand before also falling to Harmer’s spin.
At lunch, Pakistan stood at 36 for 2, with Shafique unbeaten on 21 and captain Babar Azam not out on 1. The hosts now lead by 145 runs and aim to strengthen their position in the Test match.
Earlier, South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi impressed with a patient century, scoring 104 runs against Pakistan’s spinners, while Ryan Rickelton added a steady 71. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 269.
For Pakistan, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali was the standout performer with figures of 6 for 112, while Sajid Khan took three wickets and Salman Agha claimed one.
On Day 2, Pakistan’s innings collapsed from 352 for 5 to 378 all out after a brilliant spell from South African left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy, who recorded career-best figures of 6 for 117 in 32 overs.
Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Agha both scored 93 runs each in Pakistan’s first innings.
Chasing Pakistan’s 378, South Africa made a steady start as openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton negotiated the new ball before lunch on Day 2.
After the interval, Markram added valuable runs before Nauman Ali struck, dismissing him for 24 to make it 45 for 1.
Wiaan Mulder joined Rickelton and added 35 runs for the second wicket, but Nauman struck again to remove Mulder for 17.
De Zorzi then combined with Rickelton for a 94-run partnership, attacking Pakistan’s spinners and finding boundaries regularly. The stand ended when Salman Agha removed Rickelton for 71, but de Zorzi continued his fine form to complete a classy century and emerge as South Africa’s top scorer of the match so far.
