LAHORE: South Africa held their batting composure despite Noman Ali taking two key wickets, relieving some pressure on Pakistan as the second session concluded on day two of the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
The Proteas reached 10 without loss in four overs at the lunch interval, with Markram unbeaten on five and Ryan Rickelton on four, trailing Pakistan by 368 runs.
Resuming after lunch, Markram, who recently became the 18th South African to reach 3,000 Test runs, added valuable runs in partnership with Rickelton.
However, the stand was broken when Markram was dismissed for 20 off 37 balls by Noman Ali, leaving South Africa at 45-1 in 11.5 overs.
Wiaan Mulder then joined Rickelton at the crease and began contributing with the bat, while Rickelton continued to find the boundary.
The duo worked to ease the pressure, taking the score to 75-1 in 22 overs. Their partnership was short-lived, though, as Noman struck again to dismiss Mulder for 17 off 41 balls, which included three fours.
Tony de Zorzi then came to the crease and enjoyed a slice of luck, edging two deliveries past the slip fielders for boundaries. His contributions proved crucial as South Africa reached 90-2 in 26 overs.
De Zorzi, 23 not out, and Rickelton, on 45, added 32 runs together before tea. At the break, South Africa were 112-2 in 34 overs, trailing Pakistan by 266 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 378 in 110.4 overs, courtesy of an exceptional spell from left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy, who registered his career-best figures in Test cricket.
Batting first, Pakistan suffered an early setback when opener Abdullah Shafique was trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada for just two runs in the opening over. However, captain Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq steadied the innings with a 161-run partnership for the second wicket.
Imam, returning to Test cricket after 2023, notched his 10th Test fifty, while Shan brought up his 12th half-century.
Their partnership ended when Prenelan Subrayen dismissed Shan for 76 off 147 balls, an innings laced with nine fours and a six, leaving Pakistan at 163 for two.
Babar Azam, looking fluent upon arrival, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Pakistani — and the eighth batter overall — to cross 3,000 runs in the ICC World Test Championship.
Before tea on day one, Muthusamy struck twice in quick succession, removing Imam for a well-played 93 off 153 balls, which included seven fours and a six, before dismissing Saud Shakeel for a first-ball duck. Pakistan slipped to 199 for four.
After the interval, Babar was dismissed for 23 off 48 balls by Simon Harmer, but Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha rebuilt the innings with a composed 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Rizwan brought up his 12th Test fifty, while Salman reached his 10th half-century in red-ball cricket.
Resuming day two at 313 for five, the pair continued confidently, extending their stand beyond 150 runs — the highest sixth-wicket partnership for Pakistan against South Africa at home.
However, their promising alliance ended when Muthusamy dismissed Rizwan for a well-crafted 75 off 140 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes, leaving Pakistan at 362 for six.
Muthusamy then ran through the lower order, removing Noman Ali and Sajid Khan for ducks in the same over to complete his five-wicket haul.
He later bowled Shaheen Afridi for seven to claim his sixth wicket, with Pakistan bowled out for 378 after Salman Ali Agha was dismissed by Subrayen for a well-compiled 93 off 145 balls, studded with five fours and three sixes.
For South Africa, Muthusamy finished with impressive figures of 6 for 117 in 32 overs, while Subrayen took two wickets. Rabada and Harmer claimed one wicket apiece.
