South African spinner Keshav Maharaj shined with an outstanding spell, taking 7 wickets for 102 runs as Pakistan were dismissed for 333 runs in the second Test at Rawalpindi.
Pakistan began the day at 259 for 5, with Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel leading the recovery. Both batted sensibly, adding valuable runs to steady the innings Salman scored 45, while Saud made a composed 66. Their partnership gave Pakistan hope of reaching a big total, but Maharaj had other plans.
The experienced spinner broke the crucial stand, removing both set batters before running through Pakistan’s lower order. His clever variations and sharp turn troubled the tailenders, as he claimed the final few wickets, including Shaheen Afridi and debutant Asif Afridi.
Earlier in the innings, Pakistan’s openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had provided a strong foundation. They played confidently against the new ball, adding useful runs and putting South Africa under pressure in the early overs. However, once Maharaj found his rhythm, the momentum shifted completely in South Africa’s favor.
Despite some solid batting performances, Pakistan could not convert their starts into big scores. Maharaj’s brilliant bowling spell ensured that South Africa kept control of the game, limiting Pakistan to what looked like a below-par total on a pitch offering help to spinners.
With this exceptional performance, Keshav Maharaj once again proved why he is one of South Africa’s most reliable bowlers in Test cricket, giving his team a strong advantage going into the next phase of the match.
