Noman Ali takes 6 to give Pakistan healthy lead despite a fighting century by Tony de Zorzi for South Africa.
Noman Ali six-for hands Pakistan advantage despite de Zorzi ton.
Despite scoring his second Test century and second on the subcontinent, Tony de Zorzi was unable to stop Noman Ali or stop South Africa from giving up a 109-run first innings deficit. The 39-year-old left-arm spinner gave Pakistan a significant lead on a field that would only get harder to bat on by completing his fourth consecutive Test five-for, seventh at home, and ninth overall.
Pakistan’s loss of Shan Masood in the tenth over and Imam-ul-Haq in the second over early in the second innings provided ample evidence of such. Given that Pakistan had already extended its advantage to 145 and that both teams have a history of collapses, those early dismissals might not be a major concern.
Despite surpassing 250, South Africa was unable to match Pakistan’s score of 378 after losing 4 for 54 on the third morning and collapsing 4 for 26 on the second evening.
When Senuran Muthusamy and de Zorzi returned, he appeared to be very at ease until he pushed Sajid Khan to slide, whereupon Salman Agha made a quick catch. Pakistan may not have thought of themselves as in the tail just yet, especially after Simon Harmer impressively reverse-swept Noman for four, but de Zorzi appeared eager to get a hundred. This is because South Africa is batting deep.
He was at 81 overnight, 87 when he hit Sajid for four after swinging across the line, and 96 when he blasted Noman for six over long-off. To highlight his ability to play in difficult conditions and reach a hard-fought century, he reverse-swept Noman for a single later in that over.
De Zorzi tried to be as aggressive as he could with the second new ball approaching, but it ultimately proved to be his downfall. To give Noman five, he moved up on him and swung hard, but the ball barely reached Shaheen Shah Afridi on the long-on boundary.
Pakistan seized it and passed it to their spinners after South Africa reached the second new ball, and Noman just needed eight balls to score. Prenalen Subrayen attempted to defend, but he gained an advantage, and Agha moved in to make another excellent catch at slip. Noman’s final score was 6 for 112.
At the conclusion of the 84th over, Sajid bowled Kagiso Rabada, whose ball went beyond the outside edge and hit the top of the offstump, ending the innings.
Rabada and Harmer shared the new ball as South Africa got off to a strong start in the second innings. Abdullah Shafique nearly chipped Harmer to mid-wicket, which had an almost instantaneous effect. Imam tried to drive through the offside three deliveries later, but the ball veered away from him and he missed. He was stumped and way out of his crease.
When Rabada hit Babar Azam high on the rear leg, he survived a review, and Aiden Markarm was persuaded to send it upstairs. Over the stumps, the ball would have bounced. Rabada delivered one of the game’s best fast bowling periods at lunchtime, despite being wicketless.