RAWALPINDI: South Africa thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, levelling the two-match series 1-1.
Chasing a modest 68-run target, the visitors reached the mark comfortably, with captain Aiden Markram scoring 42 before being dismissed by Noman Ali, who also removed Tristan Stubbs in the same over.
Pakistan resumed Day 4 on 94 for 4 but collapsed to 138 all out, adding just 44 runs to their overnight total. Off-spinner Simon Harmer produced a stunning spell, taking 6 for 50 to complete 1,000 first-class wickets and secure his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.
Harmer struck early, trapping Babar Azam leg-before for 52 with the fifth ball of the day, ending the captain’s hopes of breaking his century drought since December 2022. Nine runs later, he had Mohammad Rizwan caught close-in for 18.
Harmer continued his demolition, dismissing Noman Ali for a duck — his 1,000th first-class wicket — before Shaheen Shah Afridi was run out without scoring. Keshav Maharaj wrapped up the innings, dismissing Salman Agha (28) and Sajid Khan (13).
Pakistan had earlier posted 333 in their first innings, led by Shan Masood’s 87 and Saud Shakeel’s 66. For South Africa, Maharaj took 7 for 102, while Harmer and Kagiso Rabada claimed two and one wickets respectively.
In reply, South Africa amassed 404, thanks to Senuran Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89 and Rabada’s quickfire 71. Asif Afridi was Pakistan’s standout bowler with 6 for 79.
Maharaj was named player of the match, while Muthusamy earned the player-of-the-series award. Pakistan had won the opening Test in Lahore by 93 runs, but the emphatic Pindi victory gave South Africa a share of the series in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
