Rawalpindi witnessed history as South Africa secured a long-awaited Test win in Pakistan, their first in 18 years, by defeating the hosts by eight wickets in the second and final Test of the series. The victory ensured the two-match contest ended in a 1-1 draw.
Chasing a modest target of 68 runs, the Proteas reached the mark comfortably at 73 for 2, with captain Aiden Markram contributing 42 before falling to Nauman Ali. Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 25, guiding his side home despite the early dismissal of Tristan Stubbs for a duck.
For Pakistan, the defeat was rooted in a batting collapse during their second innings, where they were bundled out for just 138 runs. Starting the fourth day at 94 for 4, hopes rested on skipper Babar Azam, who added only one run to his overnight score before departing for 50. The rest of the batting order faltered, with Mohammad Rizwan (18), Salman Agha (28), and Sajid Khan (13) offering brief resistance. Several others, including Nauman Ali and Shaheen Afridi, fell without scoring.
Earlier, Pakistan had posted 333 runs in their first innings, led by Shan Masood’s 87, Saud Shakeel’s 66, and Abdullah Shafiq’s 57. South Africa responded strongly with 404 runs, thanks to a remarkable lower-order fightback. Senuran Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89, combined with Tristan Stubbs’ 76 and Kagiso Rabada’s 71, turned the tide. Partnerships of 71 for the ninth wicket and 98 for the tenth gave the visitors a crucial 71-run lead.
The bowling honors were shared across both sides. For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj’s 7 for 102 in the first innings and Simon Harmer’s 6 for 50 in the second proved decisive. Rabada also chipped in with key breakthroughs. On Pakistan’s side, debutant Asif Afridi impressed with 6 wickets in the first innings, becoming only the second left-arm spinner from Pakistan to claim a five-wicket haul on debut.
With this result, South Africa not only leveled the series but also ended a long wait for success in Pakistan, their last Test win here dating back to 2007. For Pakistan, the loss highlighted ongoing concerns about batting consistency, despite flashes of brilliance from senior players.