PAK vs SA Review | Keshav Maharaj’s bowling brilliance helps South Africa beat Pakistan and level the series
South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second and last Test of the two-match series, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Keshav Maharaj shone with the ball, registering the brilliant figures of 7/102 and 2/34 in the first and second innings, respectively.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan faced the first blow at the team score of 35 runs in 12.3 overs, losing Imam-ul-Haq (17) off Simon Harmer on the third ball of the 13th over. Following his dismissal, Abdullah Shafique and skipper Shan Masood added a brilliant partnership of 111 runs for the second wicket. This partnership ended when Shafique was caught behind the wickets by Kyle Vereynne off Simon Harmer on the fifth ball of the 51st over. Shafique scored 57 runs off 146 balls, with four fours. Former skipper Babar Azam’s dismal form continued as he was dismissed off Keshav Maharaj at the individual score of just 16 (22). Shan Masood went on to play a brilliant knock of 87 runs off 176 balls, with two fours and three sixes, followed by Saud Shakeel’s 66 (147). Later in the innings, Salman Agha’s 45-run knock helped Pakistan post 333 runs, before getting bundled out in 113.4 overs. Keshav Maharaj shone with the ball for the Proteas in the first innings, scalping seven wickets for 102 runs in his 42.5 overs. Besides him, Kagiso Rabada and Simon Harmer also claimed one and two wickets, respectively.
In response to Pakistan’s 333-run total in the first innings, South Africa posted 404 runs, courtesy of four brilliant half-centuries. In the first phase of the innings, Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi played the crucial knocks of 76 and 55 runs, respectively. Furthermore, Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada’s valiant efforts helped the tourists take a much-needed 71-run lead at the end of the first innings. Muthusamy scored 89 runs off 155 balls, with eight fours, alongside Rabada’s 71 runs off 61 balls, with four fours and four sixes. Debutant Asif Afridi starred with the ball for Pakistan, scalping six wickets for just 79 runs in 34.3 overs, alongside two wickets claimed by his senior fellow Noman Ali. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sajid Khan also shared two wickets for the hosts.
In the second innings, Pakistan faced a drastic collapse, except for a half-century scored by Babar Azam (50 runs off 87 balls, with seven fours), followed by Salman Agha’s 42-ball 28. Eventually, Pakistan were bundled out at the score of just 138 runs, taking a lead of just 67 to set a 68-run target for the Proteas to chase. Simon Harmer claimed six wickets for South Africa in the second innings, alongside two wickets bagged by Keshav Maharaj. Kagiso Rabada also picked a wicket for 38 runs in his 11 overs for South Africa.
While chasing the target, South Africa comfortably crossed the line in 12.3 overs, scoring 73/2, courtesy of skipper Aiden Markram’s 42 runs off 45 balls, with eight fours, following Ryan Rickelton’s 25 runs off 29 balls, with two fours and a six. Noman Ali was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan in the second innings, with two wickets for 40 runs in six overs. With this win, South Africa have also levelled the series 1-1 as they lost the first Test in Lahore.
Star Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his brilliant bowling performances. He picked nine wickets in the entire match, including a sensational five-wicket haul (7/102) in the first innings.
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