Second Test evenly poised as Pakistan strike at regular intervals

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The second Test match  was evenly poised at the end of the second day as South Africa still trail Pakistan’s first innings score by 166 runs, with six wickets in hand.

Faf du Plessis and Aiden Markram started positively despite losing two wickets just before tea. Faf, who was dismissed by Yasir Shah twice in Karachi Test, feasted early on the pace of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan introduced all-rounder Faheem Ashraf into the attack to slow down the proceedings and the move paid dividends as Faf was caught behind for 17.

Nauman Ali, who replaced Hasan from the other end, kept troubling Temba Bavuma as the middle-order was first dropped by Mohammad Rizwan at 1 and then got lucky as Pakistan didn’t review an lbw decision, which was hitting the stumps as shown in replay.

Nauman kept pressing by bowling tight lines and was eventually rewarded as Aiden Markram was caught for 32 by Shaheen after top edging the ball to mid-on. 

South African captain Quinton de Kock was in the mood to counter attack as he raced to 24 runs in 11 balls, taking Proteas to 106-4 at the end of the day.

Earlier, South African openers were off to a quick start after bowling out Pakistan for 272 in the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test.

However, after going for runs in his first two overs, Hasan made a brilliant comeback to remove Dean Elgar for 15 and Rassie Van der Dussen for a duck on consecutive deliveries. Elgar was caught behind on 15, whereas Van der Dussen was clean bowled by the right-arm pacer.

With Pakistan 229-7 at lunch, South Africa was hoping to wrap up Pakistan lower-order for under 250. However, Faheem Ashraf had other ideas as he hit Wiaan Mulder for a boundary on the first ball of the second session.

The all-rounder kept the scoreboard ticking as he combined for a 30-run partnership with Yasir Shah. Yasir was looking good until he was caught and bowled by Mulder for 8.

Faheem was then joined by Nauman Ali, who once again showed resolute defense after his crucial 24-run knock in Karachi Test. Nortje kept bowling short balls to Nauman, who was dropped for 3 at short leg. After facing 25 balls, Nauman charged at Maharaj and hit him straight for a four. However, Nortje continued with the same line and length against Nauman and was eventually rewarded as the lower-order batsman was caught at short leg by Markram for 8.

Nortje quickly completed his five-wicket haul as he dismissed tailender Shaheen Afridi for a duck, leaving Faheem Ashraf stranded at the other end on 78 not out.

Nortje picked crucial wickets in the first session on day two to pile on the pressure on the hosts.

South Africa got an ideal start on day two as Pakistan captain Babar Azam failed to add anything to his overnight score of 77. Babar was caught at slip by Faf du Plessis on the second ball of the day as he tried to cut a length ball outside off from Anrich Nortje.

Nortje and Maharaj kept things tight for Pakistan batsmen after Babar’s dismissal. Fawad Alam tried to release the pressure by pinching a quick single. However, Bavuma was lightning quick to get to the ball and release it in one move to run out Fawad. The left-hander’s dive couldn’t save him as he departed for 46.

With two new batsmen at the crease, Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem, South Africa continued to put the pressure with disciplined bowling. While Rizwan was a little circumspect early on, Faheem started from where he left off in Karachi, as he played his shots from the get go.

South Africa took the new ball straight after Rizwan hit Nortje for a four with a straight drive on the second ball of the 80th over. Nortje got his revenge in the next over as Rizwan tried to pull a short ball, but was caught at deep by Kagiso Rabada. The wicketkeeper-batsman departed for 18, leaving the Men in Green 190-6.

Pakistan needed another fighting knock from Faheem and the all-rounder responded with a gritty fifty, taking on the short ball barrage and playing pull shots to perfection against South African pacers.