South Africa in record chase against Pakistan spinnersStaff WritersReutersTue, 14 October 2025 9:18PM
Pakistan have moved into a strong position and need eight wickets to win the first Test, while South Africa are chasing a record fourth-winnings target after left-arm spinners dominated proceedings on the third day.
The opening match of the two-Test series is heading for an exciting conclusion on Wednesday, on a slow and deteriorating surface at the Gaddafi Stadium.
South Africa were set 277 to win after a day of attrition in which 16 wickets fall. The highest successful run chase in Lahore was 208 in 1961 by England.
The tourists were 2-51 at stumps, still needing 226 to win but struggling to deal with the bowling of Noman Ali. He removed captain Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder cheaply as South Africa made a faltering start to their run chase.
Ryan Rickelton, who was dropped at short leg near the close of play, will resume on 29 on Wednesday along with Tony de Zorzi, who is 16 not out.
De Zorzi was batting for a second time after scoring 104 earlier on Tuesday, having resumed on 81, as the tourists stumbled from 6-216 overnight to 269 all out.
It meant a 109-run lead for Pakistan but Senuran Muthusamy put South Africa back in the contest as the home side were dismissed for 167 in their second innings.
Pakistan suffered another dramatic collapse as they lost their last six wickets for 17 runs, Muthusamy taking 5-57. In their first innings of 378 they lost their last five wickets for 16 runs.
It was a day for the spinners to savour as Noman took 6-112 in 35 overs in South Africa’s first innings, adding two wickets as he applied the pressure from early on, while spin partner Sajid Khan returned figures of 3-98 in a strong supporting role.
Pakistan lost Imam ul Haq in the second over of their second innings as he came storming down the wicket to spinner Simon Harmer, missed and was easily stumped.
But they had increased their lead to 145 runs at lunch before Abdullah Shafique was caught and bowled by Muthusamy for 41 and the dangerous Babar Azam dismissed for 42.
Kagiso Rabada, who produced a fiery spell in a rare cameo from a quick bowler, was rewarded with Babar’s wicket, trapping him leg before wicket in the middle session.
After tea, Muthusamy and Harmer (4-51) romped through the batting order. Muthusamy’s 11-wicket haul in the match was the fourth best return by a South African spinner in a test.
The two sides play a second Test, starting on Monday, in Rawalpindi.
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