Markram, Van der Dussen give South Africa hope against Pakistan in 2nd Test
RAWALPINDI – South Africa need 243 more runs to win on the final day with nine wickets in hand after Mohammad Rizwan's ton helped Pakistan post a sizeable lead.
Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen defied the Pakistan bowlers to post an unbroken 94-run stand for the second wicket at the end of day four, giving South Africa hope of a successful chase.
The visitors started their chase cautiously, but were undone in the eighth over when Shaheen Shah Afridi provided Pakistan the first breakthrough by dismissing the experienced Dean Elgar. The batsman looked to drive and gave the simplest of catches to the wicket-keeper.
With South Africa at 33/1, Pakistan had a good chance of tightening the noose, but opener Markram and the new arrival at the crease Van der Dussen had other plans. The latter showed his intent with a four through square leg to get off the mark in the same over.
The pair showed great application and went on the defensive to deny Pakistan any wickets. Markram, especially, negotiated Afridi admirably after struggling to score against him. He went scoreless for 22 balls at one stage, but eventually stabilised to start taking runs again. He soon brought up his ninth fifty in Tests and his second in the series.
At the other end, birthday boy Van der Dussen gave him excellent support, ending the day on 48* before umpires called stumps a couple of overs early due to poor light.
Earlier in the day, Rizwan was brilliant, scoring his maiden Test hundred – a sublime 115* that helped Pakistan push their lead past 350. He began the day on 28 with Pakistan 129/6. The hosts lost Hasan Ali early but then Rizwan paired with Yasir Shah for a 53-run eighth-wicket stand, keeping the scoreboard ticking by rotating strike.
The batters survived a few chances – Yasir was put down by Quinton de Kock off Maharaj and Rizwan survived a caught behind review off George Linde, with Linde also putting down a tough catch off his own bowling giving Yasir another lifeline. The half-century stand was finally broken by Linde, although not before Rizwan brought up his fifty with a pull off Wiaan Mulder.
Yasir's wicket did little to distract Rizwan from his plan as he partnered with Nauman Ali to continue milking runs. Nauman and Rizwan's ninth-wicket partnership lasted for 97 runs, with Nauman making a smart 78-ball 45 that featured six fours and two sixes.
Meanwhile, Rizwan became the seventh Pakistan wicket-keeper to score a century in Tests.
The hosts were eventually bowled for 298, setting South Africa a tough 370 to win. –ICC
