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South Africa close on win after six-wicket Harmer rocks Pakistan / Photo: © AFP
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South Africa close on win after six-wicket Harmer rocks Pakistan
Off-spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets to help dismiss Pakistan for 138, giving South Africa a 68-run target to win the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday and draw the series.
The 36-year-old finished with 6-50 for a maiden five-wicket haul -- also completing 1,000 first-class wickets -- on a deteriorating Rawalpindi stadium pitch.
Pakistan's batters folded, adding just 44 runs after resuming the fourth day on 94-4.
Harmer jolted Pakistan's hopes of saving the Test when he trapped Babar Azam leg-before with the fifth ball of the day after the batsman had reached his 30th Test half-century.
Pakistan's hopes had rested on Azam ending his century drought, having not scored a ton since December 2022.
Nine runs later Harmer had Mohammad Rizwan caught by close-in fielder Tony de Zorzi for 18.
In his next over the spinner dismissed Noman Ali for nought, caught behind for Harmer's 1,000 wicket in his 235th first-class match.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was run out without scoring while Keshav Maharaj dismissed Salman Agha for 28 and Sajid Khan for 13 to swiftly wrap up the innings.
Pakistan won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs.
R.Sadowski--GL
