By Parth Dhall | Oct 13, 2025 | 06:54 PM
**Pakistan in the Driving Seat Against South Africa in 1st Test at Lahore**
Pakistan holds the upper hand in the ongoing 1st Test against South Africa at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. At stumps on Day 2, South Africa were struggling at 216/6, trailing Pakistan by 162 runs. The hosts had earlier posted a strong total of 378 runs.
### South Africa Falter in Final Session
After a promising start, South Africa’s innings faltered in the final session of play. While Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi scored half-centuries, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali took charge with four crucial wickets, swinging the momentum in favor of the home side.
### Bowling Prowess on Display
South Africa’s bowlers had shined early in the day. Pakistan resumed Day 2 on 313/5 after 90 overs, but the South African bowling attack quickly dismantled Pakistan’s lower order, claiming five wickets by the 111th over. Despite a positive start by Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, the 102nd over proved pivotal as Senuran Muthusamy dismissed Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan.
### Muthusamy’s Maiden Test Five-Wicket Haul
Muthusamy’s exceptional bowling performance resulted in his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Shaheen Afridi briefly resisted alongside Salman but was dismissed by Muthusamy, who took his sixth wicket of the innings. South Africa soon wrapped up the innings as Prenelan Subrayen dismissed Salman for a well-fought 93 off 145 balls, which included five fours and three sixes.
### Record Partnership for Pakistan
Although Salman fell short of a century, Rizwan had earlier impressed with a 75-run knock off 140 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes. According to ESPNcricinfo, Salman and Rizwan put together the highest partnership for Pakistan against South Africa for the sixth wicket or lower in Test cricket, scoring 163 runs. This surpassed the previous record of 151 runs between Azhar Mahmood and Mushtaq Ahmed for the 10th wicket in the 1997 Rawalpindi Test.
### Muthusamy’s Figures and Milestones
Muthusamy finished with impressive figures of 6/117 from 32 overs, marking his maiden Test five-wicket haul and accumulating 17 wickets in six Tests at an average of 29.29. In First-Class cricket, this was his 16th five-wicket haul. ESPNcricinfo notes that Paul Adams (7/128 in Lahore, 2003) and Shaun Pollock (6/78 in Faisalabad, 2003) are the only other South African bowlers to have taken six or more wickets in a Test innings on Pakistani soil.
### South Africa’s Opening Stand and Early Wickets
After lunch, South Africa’s openers Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi began cautiously against Pakistan’s spin attack. Markram successfully overturned an LBW decision but was soon dismissed by Noman Ali. Despite the setback, the South African batsmen continued to score, but Noman struck again in the 25th over by removing Wiaan Mulder.
### Rickelton and de Zorzi Lead the Fightback
Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi then joined forces to stabilize South Africa’s innings after Mulder’s wicket. Rickelton, who had batted cautiously earlier, reached his third 50-plus score in Tests—both previous half-centuries had been converted into centuries. De Zorzi too brought up his half-century off just 63 deliveries as South Africa began to regain control.
However, Salman Agha broke their 94-run partnership by dismissing Rickelton. Following Rickelton’s departure, South Africa lost two more quick wickets in consecutive overs—Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis. Noman Ali continued his fine form by trapping Kyle Verreynne LBW in the 61st over, cementing Pakistan’s dominance.
### What’s Next?
Day 3 will see Senuran Muthusamy resume alongside Tony de Zorzi as South Africa look to press forward and reduce the deficit.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Test match unfolds.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/pak-vs-sa-1st-test-day-2-report/story
