Post by : Rameen Ariff

South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi played a brilliant unbeaten 81 as the tourists reached 216-6 at stumps on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan in Lahore on Monday, trailing by 162 runs.

De Zorzi survived multiple reviews and provided steady resistance while South Africa struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack on a pitch that was slowing down and developing cracks at the Gaddafi Stadium.

He will resume with Senuran Muthusamy, who is not out on six, on the third day. Earlier, Muthusamy’s bowling triggered a sudden collapse in Pakistan’s innings.

Pakistan had a strong position overnight at 313-5, with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 62 and Salman Ali Agha on 52. However, Muthusamy’s left-arm spin took three wickets in four balls in the 12th over, helping Pakistan collapse from 362-5 to 378 all out. Muthusamy finished with career-best Test figures of 6-117.

Rizwan scored 75 before being caught by South Africa’s wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, ending a 163-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Salman Ali Agha remained unbeaten on 84, narrowly missing his century as he was caught at long on while chasing the milestone.

South Africa lost their first two wickets for 80 runs, but Ryan Rickelton and de Zorzi added 94 for the third wicket. Rickelton fell for 71, caught off Salman’s bowling by Babar Azam. Later, South Africa found it difficult to handle Pakistan’s spin, losing three more wickets quickly as Noman Ali took 4-85 and Sajid Khan dismissed Dewald Brevis on the first ball.

This is the opening Test of the two-match series, with the second Test set to begin in Rawalpindi on October 20.

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