Proteas batters grind it out against Pakistan spin

The Proteas made a positive reply to Pakistan’s 333 all out by moving to 86/2 at tea on the second day of the second Test in Rawalpindi. 

Pakistan struck shortly after the lunch resumption when Shaheen Shah Afridi got one to hold its line to Ryan Rickleton with the left-hander managing to get the faintest of edges through to wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan. 

Proteas captain Aiden Markram responded by launching a counter-attack against the Pakistan spinners. The skipper launched debutant Asif Afridi over mid-on for six before blazing Noman Ali for successive boundaries. 

But Markram, who scored a century at this ground the last time these two sides met here, has been his own worst enemy throughout this tour.

He was well set in the first innings in Lahore too before also gifting his wicket away in the second innings. 

Markram (32, 62 balls, 4x4, 1x6) suffered the same fate in Rawalpindi when Sajid Khan dangled a carrot outside the offstump which the skipper could not resist as he held out in the deep to Saud Shakeel at long-on. 

The despondent walk back to pavilion was that of a man who knew his team needed much more from him, especially after he had settled into his work. 

Fortunately for the Proteas, they suffered no further alarms with Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi sharing an on-going 32-run partnership for the third wicket. 

Stubbs, who has been moved up the order to No 3, has looked much more assured at the crease than in recent times, utilising a solid defence along with advancing down the track to get to the pitch of the spinning ball. 

De Zorzi, meanwhile, has continued his good form from the first Test in Lahore and will hope to extend the partnership with Stubbs during the final session. 

Second Test, Day 2, Tea

Pakistan: 333 all out

South Africa: 86/2 (Markram 32, Stubbs 23*, De Zorzi 13*, Shaheen 1/15, Sajid Khan 1/19)

South Africa trail by 247 runs