In a decisive turnaround, South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The victory levels the two-match ICC Test Championship series at 1-1.
Facing a modest target of 68 runs, the Proteas’ chase was straightforward, securing the win with eight wickets in hand and more than two days to spare.
The match was defined by Pakistan’s dramatic batting collapse on the fourth day. Resuming their second innings at 94-4, the home side could only add 44 more runs before being bowled out for 138. The architect of their downfall was off-spinner Simon Harmer, who recorded impressive figures of 6-50. This maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket was a landmark performance for the 36-year-old, as it also marked his 1,000th wicket in first-class cricket, achieved on a rapidly deteriorating pitch.
Harmer critically dismantled Pakistan’s resistance early in the day’s play. With the fifth ball, he dismissed captain Babar Azam leg-before-wicket, just after the batsman had notched his 30th Test half-century. The team’s hopes had been pinned on Azam, who is seeking to end a century drought dating back to December 2022.
Just nine runs later, Harmer struck again, removing Mohammad Rizwan for 18, with Tony de Zorzi taking the catch at close-in. The spinner’s dominance continued in his following over, where he claimed Noman Ali for a duck, a catch behind the wicket that secured his historic 1,000th first-class scalp in his 235rd match.
Pakistan’s tail offered little resistance. Shaheen Shah Afridi was run out without scoring, while Keshav Maharaj wrapped up the innings by taking the final two wickets, dismissing Salman Agha for 28 and Sajid Khan for 13.
Pakistan had previously won the first Test of this ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series by 93 runs at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
