Tue Oct 21 05:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Grind Out Respectable Score on Day One of Second Test Against South Africa
Rawalpindi, [Date] – Pakistan ended day one of the second Test against South Africa at 259 for 5 after a day of attritional cricket at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Solid half-centuries from Shan Masood (87) and Abdullah Shafique (57), coupled with an unbeaten 41 from Saud Shakeel, helped the hosts build a platform, but South Africa’s disciplined bowling and missed chances kept them in the game.
Pakistan, opting to bat, saw opener Imam-ul-Haq dismissed early by Simon Harmer after a sharp turning ball. Masood and Shafique then forged a crucial 111-run partnership, blunting the South African attack. Shafique, however, enjoyed some luck early on, surviving dropped catches and a ball that grazed the off-stump.
Despite a slow scoring rate, Pakistan reached lunch at 95/1. The second session mirrored the first, with the scoring rate remaining sedate. Both Masood and Shafique reached their half-centuries, but South Africa’s persistence eventually paid off when Harmer dismissed Shafique, caught down the leg side.
Babar Azam looked positive initially but fell cheaply to Tony de Zorzi off Simon Harmer. Masood, who was dropped earlier, continued to grind it out, before falling 13 runs short of his century, top-edging a sweep off Maharaj.
Kagiso Rabada struck late in the day to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan with the new ball, but Salman Agha and Saud Shakeel saw Pakistan through to stumps without further loss. Keshav Maharaj (2-63) and Simon Harmer (2-75) were the pick of the South African bowlers.
While Pakistan will be pleased with their total, the missed opportunities from South Africa, coupled with the slow scoring rate, suggest the game is evenly poised. Day two promises to be crucial in determining the course of the Test match.
First Piper 