World champions South Africa recovered to draw their series in Pakistan 1-1 by completing a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the second Test in Rawalpindi.
Hosts Pakistan, winners by 93 runs in the first match to end the Proteas’ 10-Test winning run, resumed in trouble on 94-4 in their second innings with a lead of 23, and slipped further when they lost Babar Azam lbw to Simon Harmer for 50.
That started a collapse of 6-44 on the fourth morning, with Essex off-spinner Harmer taking 6-50 and Pakistan falling to 138 all out.
Harmer’s sixth wicket, Noman Ali caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, was his 1,000th in first-class cricket.
The Proteas, who play two Tests away against India next month, took just 12 overs to reach their target of 68, even with the loss of Aiden Markram for 42 and Tristan Stubbs for a four-ball duck.
Victory was their first in Pakistan for 18 years, ending a four-match winless run in the country.
While Harmer’s haul all but sealed victory, South Africa’s advantage was gained in the first innings when, responding to Pakistan’s 333, their final two wickets added 71 and 98 runs to reach 404 – a lead of 71.
All-rounder Senuran Muthusamy made 89 not out and number 11 Kagiso Rabada a career-best 71.
“It was a really good response after the first Test and we were put under pressure in this Test once again,” said South Africa captain Markram.
“There were moments where guys had to put their hands up and stand up for the team, and they really did that, and then excelled in that.
“We take a lot of confidence and a lot of belief from the win, but when your character is tested and you manage to come out on the right side, that means quite a bit more.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood backed his side’s tactic, first used against England last winter, of preparing turning pitches for Tests.
“It’s been four wins out of six since we’ve operated on these wickets,” he said.
“Obviously, the wickets have got a bit better. They’ve been much more battable.
“Four out of six isn’t bad. considering in the two Test matches we’ve lost we got into winning positions. Had we finished those games off it could easily have been six out of six.”
