RAWALPINDI – South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets on Thursday, levelling the two-match Test series 1-1 after dominating the fourth morning at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 68 runs, South African openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave their side a solid start. Markram, however, fell just four runs short of the target for 42 runs, dismissed by spinner Noman Ali. The Proteas comfortably reached the target in the 13th over to secure a convincing win.
Read more: South Africa close in on victory as Pakistan collapse in second Test
Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for only 138 runs in their second innings. The hosts’ batting line-up collapsed once again, losing six wickets for just 44 runs in the morning session. Despite Babar Azam scoring a half-century, Pakistan’s middle and lower order failed to offer resistance against South Africa’s spinners.
Simon Harmer led the attack with a stunning six-wicket haul for 50 runs, while Keshav Maharaj provided key support, taking two wickets for 34. Their combined spin assault dismantled Pakistan’s hopes of setting a challenging target.
Read more: Pakistan Defeats World Champion South Africa by 93 Runs in Test
With this dominant win, South Africa not only levelled the series but also sent a strong message ahead of upcoming tours. Pakistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their recurring batting failures before their next outing.