Rawalpindi (Web Desk): South African spinner Keshav Maharaj delivered a remarkable performance on Tuesday, taking seven wickets to bowl out Pakistan for 333 in the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test.
Resuming the day at 259 for 5, the home side crumbled against Maharaj's relentless spin, as he recorded figures of 7 for 102 -- his 12th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Shan Masood led Pakistan's batting with a captain's knock of 87 runs.
Starting the second day, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha carried Pakistan forward with a steady partnership. Shakeel, who began unbeaten on 42, reached his ninth Test half-century through disciplined batting, while Agha contributed a fluent 45 off 76 deliveries with five boundaries.
Their 70-run stand stabilized the innings before Maharaj broke through, removing Agha to shift the momentum. Soon after, Shakeel fell for a well-constructed 66 off 147 balls, featuring four fours.
Maharaj then ran through the tail, dismissing Shaheen Afridi for a duck, Sajid Khan for 5, and debutant Asif Afridi to wrap up Pakistan's innings at 333.
Earlier, Pakistan's start had been promising as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique built a brisk 35-run partnership before Simon Harmer bowled Imam for 17.
Shafique continued confidently alongside captain Shan Masood, who quickly took charge, striking two sixes as the pair helped Pakistan reach 65 for 1 in 20 overs.
The duo completed a fifty partnership and pushed the score past 100 after lunch. Shafique eventually fell for 57 off 146 balls when Harmer struck again.
Babar Azam's brief stay produced 16 runs before Keshav Maharaj dismissed him, leaving Pakistan 167 for 3. Masood held firm and reached his 13th Test fifty before falling short of a century on 87 off 176 balls, an innings that included two boundaries and three sixes.
Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan then steadied the innings, with Rizwan adding 19 off 39 balls before Rabada broke the partnership.
By the close of play on day one, Pakistan stood at 259 for 5, with Shakeel and Agha at the crease.
However, Maharaj's dominant spell on the following morning ensured that the hosts could only add 74 runs before being bowled out. For South Africa, Harmer supported effectively with two wickets, while Rabada claimed one.
Pakistan, leading the two-Test series 1-0 after a 93-run victory in Lahore, brought in Asif Afridi for his debut in place of Hasan Ali for the Rawalpindi encounter.