LAHORE: South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy turned the tide in dramatic fashion on the morning session of the first Test, claiming three wickets in a single over to reduce Pakistan from 362-5 to 362-8 at at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan had resumed their first innings at 313-5 with overnight batters Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha, both having scored half-centuries. The pair extended their partnership to 163 runs, adding 49 more before Muthusamy’s devastating spell sparked a sudden collapse.
Rizwan (75) was caught behind off the third ball of Muthusamy’s over, followed by Nauman Ali (0) and Sajid Khan (0), who were both dismissed in quick succession — the latter falling for a golden duck.
Pakistan dominated the morning and evening sessions on Day 1, but lost three wickets in the afternoon session. The hosts got off to a shaky start, losing Abdullah Shafique (2) in the very first over of the innings. He was trapped LBW by Kagiso Rabada.
Skipper Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq then steadied the innings with a crucial 161-run partnership for the second wicket, easing the early pressure.
Imam, returning to Test cricket after 2023, celebrated his 10th Test fifty, while Shan reached his 12th.
The partnership was broken when Prenelan Subrayen dismissed Shan for 76 off 147 balls, which included nine fours and a six, leaving Pakistan at 163-2 in 47.3 overs.
Babar Azam walked in next and quickly found his rhythm, striking boundaries from the outset.
He also achieved a major milestone in the ICC World Test Championship, becoming the first Pakistani and eighth overall batter to surpass 3,000 runs in the tournament’s history.
Before tea, Senuran Muthusamy gave South Africa two crucial wickets in successive deliveries. Muthusamy removed Imam-ul-Haq, who made a brilliant 93 off 153 balls, and Saud Shakeel for a first-ball duck, leaving Pakistan at 199-4 in 57 overs.
After the break, Babar Azam fell for 23 off 48 balls, with Simon Harmer claiming his wicket.
In the final session of Day One, Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan steadied Pakistan’s innings with a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Rizwan, showing composure under pressure, scored his 12th Test half-century, while Salman Ali Agha also reached a fifty, his 10th in red-ball cricket.
The duo shared a 100-plus partnership as the day ended in Pakistan’s favor, with Rizwan unbeaten on 62 and Agha on 52.
For South Africa, Senuran Muthusamy claimed two wickets, while Kagiso Rabada, Prenelan Subrayen, and Simon Harmer took one wicket each.
