First Test, Day 3: South Africa all out for 269 in first innings

Lahore (Web Desk): Spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan produced a dominant display as South Africa were dismissed for 269 runs on the third day of the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, giving Pakistan a healthy first-innings lead of 109 after posting 378 earlier.

Noman Ali bagged 6 for 112, equalling Senuran Muthusamy’s earlier six-wicket performance for South Africa, while Sajid Khan picked up 3 for 98. Part-time off-spinner Salman Agha also chipped in with one wicket for 24 runs.

Tony de Zorzi was the standout performer for South Africa, crafting a determined century of 104 off 171 balls. Resuming his innings on 81 overnight, he added 23 more runs before being caught by Shaheen Shah Afridi off Noman Ali. Walking in when his team was struggling at 80, Zorzi anchored the innings with composure. After the dismissal of Muthusamy for 11 at 228, he shifted gears to reach his second hundred, striking 10 boundaries during his innings.

Ryan Rickelton also contributed significantly with 71 from 137 deliveries, hitting nine fours and two sixes before being caught brilliantly by Babar Azam in the slips off Salman Agha. Alongside Zorzi, he put together a 94-run stand for the third wicket, helping South Africa recover from early setbacks and avoid the risk of a follow-on. Earlier, Rickelton had added 45 runs for the opening wicket with acting captain Aiden Markram, who scored 20 off 37 balls.

Among the lower order, Prenelan Subrayen made 4 runs from 11 balls, Kagiso Rabada was dismissed for a duck, and Simon Harmer was left unbeaten on 19.

On Monday, Rickelton’s wicket had triggered a slump in South Africa’s innings. Dewald Brevis fell without scoring to a sharp delivery from Sajid Khan, while Tristan Stubbs (8) and Kyle Verreynne also failed to settle, the latter bowled by a superb ball from Noman Ali.

By lunch on Day 3, Pakistan reached 36 for 2 in their second innings, with Abdullah Shafique not out on 21 from 47 balls and Babar Azam unbeaten on 1 from 4. Imam-ul-Haq (0) and captain Shan Masood (7) were the two batters dismissed before the interval, both falling to Simon Harmer, who returned figures of 2 for 13 in five overs. Kagiso Rabada delivered an impressive spell but went wicketless.

In total, six wickets fell during the first session of the third day, following 11 dismissals on the second day and five on the opening day of play.