Maharaj’s Seven-Wicket Haul Leads South Africa to Bowl Out Pakistan for 333
Maharaj’s remarkable performance on the second day of the Test match led South Africa to bowl out Pakistan for 333. Starting the day at 259-5, Pakistan’s batting faltered under Maharaj’s skillful spin. His final figures of 7 wickets for 102 runs marked his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Key Performers in the Match
- Keshav Maharaj: 7 wickets for 102 runs
- Shan Masood: Top-scored with 87 runs
- Salman Agha: Contributed 45 runs
- Saud Shakeel: Made 66 runs
The innings saw captain Shan Masood leading with a valiant 87 runs before falling victim to Maharaj. South Africa started their reply without any loss, reaching 9-0 at lunch. The turning point came when Maharaj dismissed Salman Agha, trapping him leg-before, which shifted the momentum in favor of South Africa.
Notable Partnerships
A pivotal partnership occurred between Salman Agha and Saud Shakeel. They added 70 runs for the sixth wicket, with Shakeel eventually scoring his 10th half-century. However, Maharaj’s breakthrough spell dismantled the batting order, resulting in a dramatic collapse as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs.
In this innings, Maharaj also claimed the wickets of Shaheen Shah Afridi (0), Sajid Khan (5), and Asif Afridi (4), securing his first five-wicket haul against Pakistan. Before this match, Pakistan had an advantage, having won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. The current Test represents an opportunity for them to sweep the two-match series.
