South Africa struggles against Pakistan spinners to reach 216
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali snared four wickets for 85 runs as world champion South Africa fought hard to reach 216-6 on a tricky wicket for batters in the first test on Monday.Left-handed Tony de Zorzi showed a lot of composure against the spinners on an abrasive wicket and was unbeaten on a skillful 81 by stumps on day two, but South Africa still trails by 162 runs.South Africa’s own left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy took three wickets in four deliveries in a career-best haul of 6-117 to help South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 378 in the first session.Salman Ali Agha (93) became the second Pakistan batter to narrowly miss out on a century when he was the last wicket to fall for the home team.De Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton (71) had revived South Africa with a gritty 94-run third wicket stand and guided their side to 2-174 in the final session before the visitors lost four wickets for 26 runs to give Pakistan momentum.Captain Aiden Markram (20) completed 3,000 runs in test matches and Wiaan Mulder (17), a triple century-maker against Zimbabwe in South Africa’s last test match, both got caught behind of Noman after Pakistan opted to deploy spinners from one end from the onset.But Rickelton and de Zorzi blunted Sajid Khan (1-73) and Noman by not only playing deep into their crease, but also used their feet well.Off-spinner Agha broke the threatening stand and triggered the middle-order collapse when Babar Azam plucked a spectacular one-handed catch inches from the ground in the slip as Rickelton tried an expansive shot by coming out of his crease but got a thick outside edge.De Zorzi had a nervy start when he edged two boundaries against fast bowler Hasan Ali through the slips cordon, but settled in well against the spinners and displayed his wide range of shots. Khan exhausted all three Pakistan reviews that included two unsuccessful lbw referrals against de Zorzi.Tristan Stubbs (8) and Dewald Brevis’ (0) inexperience on playing spin wickets got exposed when Stubbs got a faint edge of Noman and Brevis chipped an easy catch at short mid-on off the very first ball he faced from Khan. Noman then further dented South Africa’s progress when he had Kyle Verreynne out plumb leg before wicket half an hour before stumps.Earlier, Muthusamy bowled a triple-wicket maiden over with three perfect full pitched balls as Pakistan slumped from 362-5 to 362-8. Nine overs later, Agha was dismissed for 93 when he holed out to Muthusamy at mid-on.Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq also made 93 on the first day of his return to test cricket after almost two years, and shared a 161-run partnership with captain Shan Masood (76).Resuming on the overnight 313-5 on a dry pitch with plenty of variable bounce, Agha and Mohammad Rizwan (75) extended their partnership to 163 and denied Kagiso Rabada (1-56) a breakthrough in his four-over spell while showing a lot of aggression against the off-spin of Simon Harmer, who finished with 1-101.Agha, who survived an lbw television referral in Rabada’s second over, twice lifted Harmer for sixes while Rizwan negated the spinner with his trademark sweep shots before Pakistan lost a bundle of three wickets without scoring for the second time in the innings.Rizwan and Agha’s partnership bettered Pakistan’s previous best for the sixth-wicket against South Africa — Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq combined for 144 at Faisalabad in 1997 — before Rizwan edged Muthusamy behind while attempting an off drive.Muthusamy then bowled Noman and had Khan caught at slip by Markram to be on a hat-trick for the second time in the innings.Agha, who hit five fours and three sixes in his 145-ball knock, denied Muthusamy hat-trick. Prenelan Subrayen (2-87) ended the innings when Agha went for a big hit against the off-spinner.___AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricketCopyright © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
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