RAWALPINDI — On the second day of the Rawalpindi Test match, Pakistan’s first innings came to an end at 333 runs, setting a moderate total before South Africa began their reply with a steady start. By the close of the morning session, the Proteas had scored 76 runs for the loss of two wickets, with Tristan Stubbs (18) and Tony de Zorzi (10) at the crease.

Pakistan’s innings, which had begun promisingly on the first day, concluded earlier today after a mix of disciplined bowling and missed opportunities. Several batsmen made useful contributions, but none managed to convert their starts into a big century. Top-order resilience combined with middle-order resistance allowed Pakistan to post a respectable total on a surface offering slight movement to fast bowlers and early turn for spinners.

In reply, South Africa’s openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton walked out confidently, looking to lay a strong foundation. The pair added 22 runs before Pakistan struck the first blow. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, leading the attack with characteristic aggression, removed Rickelton (14) after forcing an edge that wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan pouched cleanly behind the stumps.

Markram, who had looked fluent with a few crisp boundaries, became the next casualty. Trying to loft off-spinner Sajid Khan over mid-on, he mistimed the shot and was caught after scoring 32. The dismissal gave Pakistan their second breakthrough, keeping them in the contest after South Africa’s steady start.

At lunch, the scoreboard read South Africa 76 for 2, with Stubbs (18 not out) and de Zorzi (10 not out) continuing cautiously against a disciplined Pakistani attack. Both batsmen have shown patience, rotating the strike to blunt the new-ball threat and prepare for a long haul.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Sajid Khan have been the standout bowlers so far, maintaining tight lines and exploiting any hint of movement off the surface. The pitch, while still conducive for batting, has begun to show signs of variable bounce — a factor that could play an important role as the match progresses.

Pakistan’s earlier batting effort was marked by several useful partnerships. The top order provided stability, with Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique anchoring the innings in the middle session of Day 1. However, South Africa’s bowlers — led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen — kept chipping away with regular wickets, preventing Pakistan from running away with the score. Late contributions from the tail, including some brisk boundaries from Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah, pushed the total to 333 before the innings folded.