Pakistan´s Asif Afridi (2R) celebrates with teammates after taking his fifth wicket of South Africa´s Simon Harmer (R) in the course of the third day of the second Check cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 22, 2025. — AFP
South Africa’s decrease order fought again strongly on the third day of the Rawalpindi Check, with Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy main a spirited restoration after debutant Asif Afridi’s five-wicket haul had put Pakistan on high earlier.
South Africa resumed their innings at an in a single day rating of 185-4 on Day 3, with Asif eradicating Verreynne (10) within the very first over. The left-armer then eliminated well-settled Tristan Stubbs (76) and Simon Harmer, who made simply two.
With South Africa 210-7, Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen stitched a helpful 25-run partnership for the eighth wicket earlier than the previous was eliminated by Noman Ali.
Keshav Maharaj then joined Muthusamy, and the pair have to this point added 50 runs as Pakistan squandered a number of alternatives to safe a considerable lead.
Pakistan dropped three catches and a stumping likelihood as Maharaj and Muthusamy managed to attain freely to cut back the deficit.
At lunch on Day 3, the guests managed to make 285-8 with Muthusamy (48) and Maharaj (23) on the crease.
In the meantime, Asif bought his identify registered in cricket historical past, changing into the oldest participant ever to take a five-wicket haul on Check debut, reaching the feat at 38 years and 299 days.
Asif broke a 92-year-old file held by England’s Charles Marriott, who took 5 wickets on debut at 37 years and 332 days towards the West Indies at The Oval in 1933.
Ryan Rickelton (14), Aiden Markram (32), Tony de Zorzi (55), and Dewald Brevis (0) had been the batters dismissed on Day 2.
Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, and Noman additionally took a wicket every.
Pakistan, batting first, had earlier suffered a dramatic collapse, shedding their final 5 wickets for simply 17 runs. From a commanding 316-5, the hosts had been bowled out for 333 after a sensational spell by Keshav Maharaj, who claimed all 5 of the ultimate wickets.
Pakistan bought off to a gentle begin as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique placed on 35 runs for the primary wicket earlier than Imam was bowled by Simon Harmer for 17 off 35 balls.
Abdullah Shafique continued with composure, combining aggression with endurance to counter South Africa’s bowling.
Skipper Shan Masood joined him and displayed constructive intent, hitting two towering sixes as Pakistan reached 65-1 after 20 overs. The duo constructed a 50-run stand earlier than lunch, sustaining momentum.
After the break, each batters guided Pakistan previous 100. Masood reached his thirteenth Check fifty, whereas Shafique notched his sixth. Their 111-run partnership for the second wicket ended when Harmer dismissed Shafique for 57 off 146 balls.
Babar Azam contributed 16 off 22 balls earlier than falling to Keshav Maharaj, leaving Pakistan at 167-3. Masood narrowly missed a century, scoring 87 off 176 deliveries with two fours and three sixes.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel added 34 for the fifth wicket earlier than Kagiso Rabada trapped Rizwan lbw for 19, decreasing Pakistan to 246-5 in 84.5 overs.
Resuming day two at 259-5, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha stabilised the innings, including 70 for the sixth wicket.
Shakeel introduced up his ninth Check fifty, whereas Agha contributed 45 off 76 balls with 5 boundaries earlier than being dismissed by Maharaj.
Maharaj then struck once more, eradicating Shakeel for a well-crafted 66 off 147 balls.
He continued his dominance by dismissing Shaheen Afridi for a duck to finish his five-wicket haul, and later accounted for Sajid Khan (5) and debutant Asif Afridi, as Pakistan had been bowled out for 333 in 113.4 overs.
Maharaj completed with excellent figures of seven for 102, whereas Simon Harmer and Kagiso Rabada took a wicket apiece. For Pakistan, captain Shan Masood top-scored with 87, whereas Saud Shakeel contributed a strong 66.
