NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj made an impressive comeback from injury, taking 7-102 as South Africa bowled out Pakistan for 333 before lunch on Tuesday in the second Test at Rawalpindi.
Maharaj, who had missed South Africa's series-opening defeat in Lahore due to a groin injury, claimed the final five wickets for just 15 runs, triggering a dramatic collapse of Pakistan’s lower order. Off-spinner Simon Harmer contributed with figures of 2-75, while pacer Kagiso Rabada returned 1-60.
Chasing the total, World Test Championship winners South Africa reached 9 without loss at lunch on Day 2, with captain Aiden Markram surviving a close lbw review against Shaheen Shah Afridi.
From injury to milestones! 💥
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 21, 2025
Keshav Maharaj marks his return in style with a brilliant seven-wicket haul! 💫
A masterful performance from #TheProteas Men’s premier spinner. 👏 pic.twitter.com/z11EXmRVbM
Pakistan had resumed the day at 259-5, with Saud Shakeel (66) and Salman Ali Agha (45) adding 70 runs for the sixth wicket before Maharaj's spin attack crumbled the tail on a dry wicket.
South Africa made amends to their lackluster fielding on Day 1, when they dropped several catches, and held onto all their chances on Day 2.
Pakistan's sixth-wicket pair combined well in the first hour with left-hander Shakeel completing his half century off 118 balls when he pushed Maharaj to square leg for two runs.
Marco Jansen and Rabada bowled to tight lengths and also missed the outside edges of both batters but couldn't get the breakthrough before Maharaj struck just before the drinks break.
Maharaj's sliding delivery hit Agha on the shin as he went to play for the turn but missed the straight ball. In his next over, Maharaj found the outside edge of Shakeel's bat and Markram, who had dropped Abdullah Shafique in the slip on Day 1, didn't miss out.
Afridi, who was unveiled as Pakistan's new ODI captain on Monday, was out without scoring when he played Maharaj across the line and was clean bowled.
(With AP Inputs)