South Africa secured an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second Test match held in Rawalpindi. The win leveled the series at 1-1, with Simon Harmer achieving his first five-wicket haul. The veteran off-spinner, aged 36, claimed figures of 6-50, reaching a milestone of 1,000 first-class wickets on a challenging Rawalpindi pitch.
Chasing a modest target of 68 runs, South Africa lost only two wickets – Aiden Markram for 42 and Tristan Stubbs for a duck, both dismissed by spinner Noman Ali, who ended with figures of 2-40. Ryan Rickelton, scoring an unbeaten 25, finished the match with a six off Sajid Khan just before the lunch break.
South Africa’s captain, Markram, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance following their defeat in the first Test. He highlighted the significant contributions of spinners Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, emphasizing the team’s readiness for the upcoming series in India.
Pakistan, who posted 333 runs in their first innings, faltered in their second innings, managing only 44 runs on the final day. Harmer’s crucial dismissal of Babar Azam, who had reached his 30th Test half-century, dented Pakistan’s hopes of saving the Test. Despite a valiant effort from the tailenders, Pakistan succumbed to the South African bowlers, culminating in a 71-run lead for the visitors.
Harmer’s exceptional performance, including his milestone of 1,000 first-class wickets, solidified his place among South Africa’s elite bowlers. His standout figures of 4-51 in the first Test in Lahore set the stage for his remarkable display in Rawalpindi.
In contrast, Pakistan’s batting woes continued as they lost their last five wickets for 33 runs in the second innings. Facing a series of collapses throughout the series, Pakistan struggled to counter the relentless South African bowling attack, with Maharaj adding to his impressive haul with figures of 2-34 in the second innings.