NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali claimed four wickets for 85 runs as World Test Champions South Africa had a tough outing reach to 216 for six on a challenging surface for batters in the opening Test on Monday.

Left-hander Tony de Zorzi showed great composure against the spinners on an abrasive track and was unbeaten on a determined 81 at stumps on day two, though South Africa still trailed by 162 runs.

Earlier, South Africa’s own left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a career-best 6 for 117, including a stunning burst of three wickets in four deliveries, to help dismiss Pakistan for 378 in the first session.

Salman Ali Agha (93) was the last wicket to fall, becoming the second Pakistan batter to miss out narrowly on a century after Imam-ul-Haq’s 93 on the opening day.

De Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton (71) then revived South Africa with a solid 94-run stand for the third wicket, taking their side to 174 for two before Pakistan fought back with four wickets for 26 runs, regaining momentum late in the day.

Captain Aiden Markram (20) completed 3,000 Test runs, while Wiaan Mulder (17) — who scored a triple century against Zimbabwe in South Africa’s previous Test — was among Noman’s victims, both batters edging behind after Pakistan introduced spin from one end early on.

Rickelton and de Zorzi handled spinners Noman and Sajid Khan (1-73) smartly, using their feet well and defending deep in the crease. However, Agha broke the partnership when Babar Azam pulled off a superb one-handed low catch in the slips as Rickelton advanced down the pitch for an attacking shot and edged it.

De Zorzi had a nervous start, edging two boundaries off fast bowler Hasan Ali through the slips, but soon settled into rhythm against spin, displaying a fine range of strokes. Sajid Khan wasted all three of Pakistan’s reviews, including two unsuccessful lbw appeals against de Zorzi.

Tristan Stubbs (8) and Dewald Brevis (0) struggled against spin — Stubbs edged Noman behind, while Brevis chipped a simple catch to short mid-on off the first ball he faced from Khan. Noman then struck again, trapping Kyle Verreynne lbw about half an hour before stumps to further dent South Africa’s progress.

Earlier, Muthusamy delivered a brilliant triple-wicket maiden over, bowling three full, accurate deliveries that reduced Pakistan from 362 for five to 362 for eight. Nine overs later, Agha was dismissed for 93 when he lofted a catch to Muthusamy at mid-on.

On the first day, Imam-ul-Haq also scored 93 on his Test return after nearly two years, adding 161 runs with captain Shan Masood (76).

Resuming on 313 for five on day two, Agha and Mohammad Rizwan (75) extended their partnership to 163 on a dry surface with variable bounce, frustrating South Africa’s attack. Rizwan showed attacking intent against Simon Harmer (1-101) while Agha twice lifted him for sixes.

Rizwan eventually edged Muthusamy behind while driving, ending a stand that surpassed Pakistan’s previous best sixth-wicket partnership against South Africa — Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 144 at Faisalabad in 1997.

Muthusamy then bowled Noman and had Sajid Khan caught at slip by Markram, coming close to a hat-trick for the second time in the innings. Agha denied him the milestone but soon fell to Prenelan Subrayen (2-87), skying a big shot to end Pakistan’s innings.

Agha’s 145-ball knock featured five fours and three sixes — an innings that anchored Pakistan before Muthusamy’s spin burst brought South Africa back into the contest.

(With PTI Inputs)