South Africa endured a tough second day in the ongoing Test against Pakistan, closing at 216 for 6 on a spin-friendly wicket in Karachi. The visitors remain significantly behind Pakistan’s first-innings total, with the pitch showing increasing turn and uneven bounce that left their batters under constant pressure. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali was the star of the day, picking up four wickets and exposing South Africa’s long-standing vulnerability to quality spin.
The day began with South Africa resuming in a promising position, but their middle order faltered once the ball began to grip. Noman Ali struck early in the session, removing opener Aiden Markram, who had looked solid until he was beaten by sharp turn that crashed into his stumps. Soon after, Keegan Petersen edged one to slip, and the momentum began to shift rapidly.
Tony de Zorzi played a lone hand for South Africa, remaining unbeaten on 81 at stumps. His composed innings, built on patience and smart shot selection, was one of the few bright spots for the touring side. Partnering briefly with Ryan Rickelton, who contributed a gritty 71, de Zorzi tried to rebuild the innings, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to handle the relentless spin barrage. Their 102-run partnership was the only substantial stand of the day, and once it was broken, the collapse came swiftly.
The conditions in Karachi were tailor-made for Pakistan’s spinners. The wicket had already begun to deteriorate, with the upper layer turning dusty and the ball gripping sharply. Noman Ali bowled with guile and precision, varying his pace and flight to draw the South African batters into mistakes. Supported by tight lines from fellow spinner Sajid Khan, Pakistan managed to choke the scoring rate while inducing errors under pressure.
For South Africa, the repeated struggles against subcontinental conditions remain a glaring issue. Their defensive techniques often looked tentative, and their inability to rotate the strike allowed Pakistan’s bowlers to dictate the tempo. Even as de Zorzi showed intent with the sweep and occasional lofted drive, wickets kept falling at the other end — leaving the Proteas with just four wickets in hand and still trailing Pakistan’s total by over a hundred runs.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood rotated his bowlers effectively, ensuring the pressure never eased. The field placements were sharp — close-in catchers surrounded the bat, and every half-chance was contested with energy. By the end of play, the hosts had not only tightened their grip on the match but also planted the seeds for a possible innings victory if South Africa falter again in the second innings.
Day three now looms as a critical test for South Africa’s lower order. De Zorzi will resume on 81, with the tail exposed against a pitch turning square. Pakistan will aim to polish off the innings early and build a commanding lead before the surface worsens further. If Noman Ali continues his form, this Test could swing decisively in Pakistan’s favour within the first session of the next day.
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