By
SABC Sport
14th October 2025
Pakistan ended the day needing just eight more wickets for victory, while South Africa, still 226 runs behind, face a steep challenge to complete what would be Lahore's highest successful chase and the second-highest in Pakistan.
The Proteas began on 216 for 6, trailing Pakistan's first-innings 378 by 162. Tony de Zorzi, resuming on 81, played positively and brought up his second Test century - and second in Asia - with two sixes and ten fours. He fell for 104, caught at long-on off Noman Ali, who completed a five-wicket haul and soon made it six by removing Prenelan Subrayen.
Sajid Khan mopped up the tail, dismissing Senuran Muthusamy (11) and bowling Kagiso Rabada for a duck, as South Africa folded for 269, conceding a 109-run lead. Noman finished with 6 for 112 - his ninth Test five-wicket haul.
Pakistan's second innings began aggressively but soon crumbled under South Africa's sharp spin. Simon Harmer struck in the first over, stumping Imam-ul-Haq for a duck and trapping Shan Masood lbw for 7.
Abdullah Shafique (41) and Babar Azam (42) added 62 to stabilize the innings, but both fell before and after tea. Shafique gave a return catch to Muthusamy, while Babar was trapped lbw by Rabada, extending his century drought to 28 innings.
Saud Shakeel added 38, but his dismissal before tea triggered a collapse. Pakistan crashed from 150 for 4 to 167 all out, losing six wickets for 17 runs. Muthusamy took 5 for 57 - his best innings figures - and a match haul of 11 for 174, the fourth-best by a South African spinner in Tests. Harmer claimed 4 for 51.
Chasing 277, South Africa lost early wickets. Noman bowled Aiden Markram for 3 and had Wiaan Mulder caught at slip for a duck. De Zorzi (16 not out) and Rickelton (29 not out) steadied things, taking South Africa to 51 for 2 at stumps.