LAHORE: Noman Ali struck twice in the last session of the day three, putting Pakistan on top with South Africa reeling in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Set 277, South Africa were 51-2 at stumps, still requiring 226 runs for victory.
Ryan Rickelton made 29* from 76 with the aid of three fours, and the only centurion in the match, Tony de Zorzi, battled out for his 16* from 44 in challenging conditions.
Noman continued from where he left off in the first innings, castling Proteas skipper Aiden Markram for five while Wiaan Mulder followed him in quick succession. The right-hander could not open his account.
As a result, South Africa were put in early trouble, hence reduced to 18-2. However, De Zorzi and Rickelton added 33 runs and survived the last few overs like they did in the first innings, which lifted the visitors out of the trouble.
Earlier, South African spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a sensational bowling performance, claiming five wickets in the second innings to help the visitors bundle Pakistan for 167
Having already taken six wickets in the first innings, Muthusamy added another five to his tally, finishing with match figures of 11 wickets, as Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse in the final session.
Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs after Tea, with Muthusamy running through the lower order. The hosts could only set South Africa a target of 277 runs.
The home side resumed their innings at 36-2 after lunch, with Abdullah Shafique (21) and Babar Azam (1) at the crease.
The pair looked steady before Muthusamy struck again, dismissing Shafique for 41 off 73 balls, including six boundaries, to break a 31-run third-wicket stand.
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel then stabilized the innings, adding 55 runs for the fourth wicket and pushing Pakistan’s lead beyond 200.
However, South Africa clawed back as Kagiso Rabada removed Babar for 42 off 72 deliveries, shifting momentum once more.
Shakeel looked fluent with 38 off 53 balls, but Muthusamy returned just before tea to dismiss him, halting Pakistan’s progress. At the interval, the hosts were 150-5, with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 14.
Pakistan started their second innings with a lead of 109 runs. However, Harmer quickly dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for a two-ball duck in the second over, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 2-1.
Skipper Shan Masood joined Shafique at the crease but struggled to score, making only seven runs before also falling to Harmer.
Babar Azam then came to bat, and together with Shafique, they managed to see out the first session without any further loss of wickets.
The 16-wicket day started with Noman Ali completing a six-wicket haul to help Pakistan bowl out South Africa for 269.
Resuming the day at 216-6, South Africa were banking on Tony de Zorzi to carry them closer to Pakistan’s total of 378.
The left-hander, who began the morning on 81, completed a well-deserved century, his second in Test cricket, before falling to Noman after a hard-fought 104 that featured 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes.
Sajid Khan struck early in the day to remove Senuran Muthusamy for 11, while Noman wrapped up the tail swiftly, leaving the visitors all out for 269.
Simon Harmer remained unbeaten on 19 as South Africa’s innings folded within the first session.
Noman’s figures of 6-113 stood out as the defining performance of the innings, while Sajid supported ably with 3-98. Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one wicket.
Earlier, it was South Africa’s own spinners who shone on the second day, as Muthusamy’s six-wicket haul had helped the Proteas bundle Pakistan out for 378. However, the tourists failed to build on that momentum with the bat.
Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave South Africa a steady start before lunch on day two, but Noman broke the stand soon after by removing Markram for 20.
Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder then stitched together a brief partnership, with both batters looking settled before Noman struck again to dismiss Mulder for 17.
De Zorzi, who arrived next, found early fortune with a few edges flying past the slip cordon but soon looked in control.
Alongside Rickelton, he added 94 runs for the third wicket, the best partnership of the innings. Rickelton made a solid 71 off 137 deliveries before falling to Salman Ali Agha.
That dismissal triggered a collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for just 25 runs, slipping from 175-3 to 200-6. The middle order offered little resistance with Tristan Stubbs (8), Dewald Brevis (0), and Kyle Verreynne (6) all falling cheaply.
By the close of play on the second day, the Proteas were 216-6 with de Zorzi unbeaten on 81, but the next morning belonged entirely to Pakistan’s spinners.
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