PAK vs SA, 1st Test: Noman Ali limits South Africa to 216-6 at stumps; Tony de Zorzi stands firm with unbeaten 81 | Cricket News
Noman Ali’s impressive spin bowling performance secured four wickets, limiting South Africa to 216-6 at stumps on day two of the first Test in Lahore. Tony de Zorzi remained unbeaten with a fighting half-century.The Gaddafi Stadium pitch favoured spin bowling, with all 11 wickets of the day falling to spinners. South African left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy achieved his career-best figures of 6-117, dismissing Pakistan for 378. At close of play, Zorzi stood firm at 81 not out alongside Muthusamy on six, with South Africa trailing by 162 runs in their first innings.Zorzi’s resilient innings included nine boundaries and a six, while facing Noman Ali, who finished with figures of 4-85. South Africa’s innings began promisingly at 45-0 before Noman removed captain Aiden Markram for 20 and Wiaan Mulder for 17, both caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.Ryan Rickelton and Zorzi formed a strong 94-run partnership for the third wicket, with Rickelton scoring 71 runs, including two sixes and nine boundaries.Part-time spinner Salman Agha broke the partnership when Babar Azam caught Rickelton in the slips.Noman returned to dismiss Tristan Stubbs for eight and Kyle Verreynne for two, while Sajid Khan removed Dewald Brevis for a golden duck.Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s innings concluded at 378 after resuming at 313-5, losing their final five wickets for just 16 runs.Salman Agha’s innings of 93, featuring five fours and three sixes, ended when Prenelan Subrayen caught him in the deep. Subrayen finished with 2-78.Agha and Rizwan extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 163 before Muthusamy’s devastating spell claimed three wickets in the 12th over.Rizwan’s innings of 75, which included two fours and two sixes, ended when Verreynne caught him off Muthusamy’s turning delivery.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan fell in quick succession, both without scoring. Shaheen Shah Afridi was bowled for seven, giving Muthusamy his sixth wicket.This performance surpassed Muthusamy’s previous Test best of 4-45 against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.
