Cricket Dec 07, 2025

South Africa thrash Pakistan by eight wickets to level two-Test series as Simon Harmer impresses in Rawalpindi

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
South Africa thrash Pakistan by eight wickets to level two-Test series as Simon Harmer impresses in Rawalpindi

South Africa thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets on Thursday to tie the two-Test series, with off-spinner Simon Harmer taking a six-wicket haul in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan opened the series with a , but Harmer (6-50) dismissed Pakistan for 138 on day four.

That set South Africa a target of 68 runs with the World Test Championship winners comfortably reaching 73-2 in 12.3 overs, with captain Aiden Markram (42) and Ryan Rickelton (25) leading the way.

Harmer and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-34), who missed the first Test due to injury, took 17 wickets between them in the second Test.

"After the first Test, we were put under pressure, but the guys have put their hands up and excelled," Markram said.

"Great space to be in as a team. The unit out here is one of the best. In South Africa, you'd think it's just seamers, but we are very good with the spinners as well."

Markram, who stood in the series as skipper in place of injured Temba Bavuma, was trapped lbw by Noman Ali (2-40) when his team needed only four runs for victory.

Tristan Stubbs, who scored a half-century in South Africa's first innings of 404, was out for a duck when he edged Noman to slip, before Rickelton smashed Sajid Khan (0-15) for six to secure the win.

"You have to give credit to the opposition, they have kept fighting," Pakistan captain Shan Masood said.

"Unfortunately, we didn't finish well in the first innings and the difference seeped into the third and fourth innings. We will have to look back at those chances that we missed out on.

"We are measuring against a team that has won this World Test Championship, so we can't give them chances."

Harmer became only the third South African bowler to reach the 1,000-wicket milestone in first-class cricket when he had Noman caught behind for a duck, with Pakistan's second innings collapsing in just over an hour.

Babar Azam (50) and Mohammad Rizwan (18) helped lift Pakistan from 94-4, but both fell to Harmer inside off-spinner's first three overs of the morning.

Babar, 49 overnight, completed his first half-century of the series with a single before he was trapped lbw. The former Test captain hasn't scored a century since December 2022 in this format.

Salman Ali Agha hit 28 off 42 balls but chopped Maharaj back onto his stumps before the left-armer had Sajid (13) stumped to mop up Pakistan's tail.

The two teams will now compete in a three-match T20 series, starting in Rawalpindi next Tuesday, followed by as many ODI games in Faisalabad from November 4-8.

Tags:

cricket news id:13455683

Share this article

Related Posts

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Jacob Bethell's 71 was one of the few highlights for the Lions as England's second-string suffered a thumping innings defeat to Australia A in the uno...

The Ashes: Snicko operator admits mistake led to incorrect Alex Carey not out decision during third Test

The Ashes: Snicko operator admits mistake led to incorrect Alex Carey not out decision during third Test

The operator of the Snicko technology being used in the Ashes has admitted a mistake led to Australia's Alex Carey wrongfully surviving an England rev...

New Zealand vs West Indies: Tom Latham, Devon Conway make Test cricket history with centuries apiece in both innings

New Zealand vs West Indies: Tom Latham, Devon Conway make Test cricket history with centuries apiece in both innings

Tom Latham and Devon Conway earned a unique place in Test history when their 192-run second innings partnership paved the way for New Zealand's declar...

The Ashes: Should England's Jacob Bethell have batted at No 3 or lower down the order in Melbourne?

The Ashes: Should England's Jacob Bethell have batted at No 3 or lower down the order in Melbourne?

No 3 has been a problem position for England in The Ashes with Ollie Pope struggling for form and his replacement Jacob Bethell was dismissed for just...

The Ashes 2025/26: Brendon McCullum concedes England future in hands of others after 11-day series defeat

The Ashes 2025/26: Brendon McCullum concedes England future in hands of others after 11-day series defeat

Brendon McCullum is eager to stay on as England's head coach but admits his future is "up to other people" after losing the Ashes in just 11 days.The...

The Ashes 2025-26: Where did it all go wrong for England as Australia retain the urn in dominant fashion?

The Ashes 2025-26: Where did it all go wrong for England as Australia retain the urn in dominant fashion?

England's bid to regain the Ashes is over after three comprehensive defeats in the first three Tests of the five-match series in Australia, but where...