LAHORE: Pakistan maintained control in the opening Test despite a spirited fightback from South Africa on the third day at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The visitors struck five crucial blows to slow the hosts’ progress, but Pakistan still holds a commanding 259-run lead.
Resuming after lunch, Abdullah and his partner put together a 31-run stand as Abdullah approached his half-century.
However, Senuran Muthusamy gave South Africa their third breakthrough, dismissing Shafique for 41 off 73 balls, which included six boundaries, leaving Pakistan at 64-3 in 19 overs.
Babar Azam kept the scoreboard ticking, guiding the team past the 200-run mark with the score at 91-3 in 27 overs. Saud Shakeel then joined in, finding his rhythm after early struggles and helping raise a 50-run partnership with Babar.
The momentum shifted again as Kagiso Rabada struck, dismissing Babar for 42 off 72 balls, which featured five boundaries, leaving Pakistan at 119-4 in 30.5 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan then joined Saud and the pair added 31 runs before Muthusamy claimed Shakeel’s wicket; Saud scored 38 off 53 balls with seven boundaries.
At tea, Salman Agha joined Rizwan, who is unbeaten on 14 off 26, as Pakistan reached 150-5 in 39.4 overs.
Earlier in the first session, the hosts suffered an early blow when Imam was dismissed for a duck, stumped by Kyle Verreynne off Simon Harmer in just the second over, leaving Pakistan at 2-1 in 1.4 overs.
Abdullah Shafique, alongside Shan Masood, tried to steady the innings with a 31-run partnership before Harmer struck again, removing Shan for seven off 17 deliveries to put further pressure on the home side.
At lunch, Pakistan reached 36-2 in 11 overs, with Abdullah Shafique unbeaten on 21 and captain Babar Azam on one. The hosts hold a lead of 145 runs as they look to consolidate their advantage in the match.
Earlier South Africa were bundled out for 269 in 84 overs courtesy of exceptional bowling spell by Noman Ali and vital contributions from Sajid Khan to give the team a significant 109-run lead.
In persuit to Pakistan’s 378 runs in the first innings, South Africa got off to a steady start as openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton negotiated the Pakistani bowling attack before lunch.
After the break, Markram—who recently became the 18th South African to reach 3,000 Test runs—added valuable runs alongside Rickelton.
However, the partnership was broken when Noman Ali dismissed Markram for 20 off 37 balls, leaving the visitors at 45-1 in 11.5 overs.
Wiaan Mulder then joined Rickelton and helped build a steady stand, taking the score to 75-1 in 22 overs. Their partnership ended when Noman struck again, removing Mulder for 17 off 41 balls, including three fours.
Tony de Zorzi walked in next and enjoyed some luck early on, edging a couple of deliveries past the slips for boundaries. His contributions proved vital as South Africa reached 90-2 in 26 overs.
In the final session, Rickelton showcased his class, bringing up his maiden Test fifty while helping de Zorzi forge a strong 94-run stand. De Zorzi also reached his third Test half-century as the pair guided the Proteas past the 150-run mark.
However, their partnership was broken when Salman Ali Agha dismissed Rickelton for a well-played 71 off 137 balls, featuring nine fours and two sixes, leaving South Africa at 174-3 in 50.1 overs.
The momentum then swung firmly in Pakistan’s favor. Tristan Stubbs fell cheaply for eight to Noman Ali, who claimed his third wicket, and in the very next over, Sajid Khan removed Dewald Brevis for a first-ball duck, reducing South Africa to 193-5 in 56 overs.
Noman continued his brilliant spell, trapping wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne LBW for just two runs off 12 balls to claim his fourth wicket of the innings.
Resuming at 216-6 on the third morning, the Proteas lost wickets early as Sajid Khan struck twice, removing Senuran Muthusamy for 11 off 34 deliveries and leaving the visitors struggling at 228-7 in 71.4 overs.
Tony de Zorzi, who was in sublime touch, completed his first Test century but his fine innings came to an end soon after when he was dismissed by Noman Ali for a well-compiled 104, which included 10 fours and a six.
Simon Harmer and Prenelan Subrayen attempted to add some valuable runs for South Africa, but their resistance didn’t last long. Noman struck again to claim his sixth wicket, dismissing Subrayen for just four.
The Proteas were eventually bowled out for 269 in 80 overs when Kagiso Rabada fell to Sajid Khan, who finished with three wickets.
For Pakistan, Noman Ali registered brilliant figures of 6-113, while Sajid Khan picked up 3-98 and Salman Ali Agha claimed one wicket.
Batting first in the opening Test, the hosts posted 378 runs in their first innings, thanks to notable contributions from Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha, both scoring 93, while captain Shan Masood added 76 off 147 balls and Mohammad Rizwan contributed 75 runs.
