South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, levelling the two-match series 1-1.
Chasing a small target of 68 runs, South Africa reached the total with ease. Captain Aiden Markram led the charge with a quick 42 runs before being dismissed.
Pakistan started the day hoping to build a strong lead. However, their batting lineup collapsed, adding only 44 runs to their overnight score. They were all out for 138.
The star of the session was South African off-spinner Simon Harmer. He took six wickets for 50 runs. This was his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. During this spell, he also achieved a major personal milestone: his 1,000th wicket in first-class cricket.
Harmer made two crucial early strikes. He first trapped former captain Babar Azam leg-before-wicket. Azam had just scored his 30th Test half-century. Soon after, Harmer dismissed wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
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🇿🇦 South Africa won by 8 wickets in the 2nd Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium 🏏#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen pic.twitter.com/srrfL7VAsU
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 23, 2025The rest of Pakistan’s batting order fell quickly. Keshav Maharaj also chipped in with two wickets to end the innings.
In their first innings, Pakistan scored 333 runs. Captain Shan Masood top-scored with 87, and Saud Shakeel made 66. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj was brilliant with the ball, taking 7 wickets.
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South Africa then replied with a strong total of 404. Key lower-order contributions from Senuran Muthusamy (89*) and Kagiso Rabada (71) gave them a vital lead.
Pakistan had won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. This victory in Rawalpindi means the series ends in a 1-1 draw. Keshav Maharaj was named Player of the Match for his 7-wicket haul. Senuran Muthusamy was awarded Player of the Series for his all-round performance
