DAY 3: The Chase Tightens: De Zorzi and Rickelton in the spotlight

Tony de Zorzi (104) completed a fine century before South Africa were dismissed for 269 in their first innings to concede a deficit of 109 and will require another 226 runs in their second for an unlikely victory against Pakistan in the first test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.

Sixteen wickets fell on the day, 15 to spin, as Senuran Muthusamy added 5-57 to his first innings haul of 6-117 to help dismiss Pakistan for 167 in their second innings, leaving South Africa with a fourth innings target of 277. They were 51-2 at the close of the third day with Ryan Rickelton (29*) and De Zorzi (16*) at the crease. Offspinner Simon Harmer claimed 4-51.

The tourists resumed their first innings on 216 for six with De Zorzi on 81 but could add only 53 for the final four wickets, with left hander De Zorzi’s brave attempt to accelerate leading to his downfall as he holed out to long on against left-arm spinner Noman Ali who claimed a well-deserved 6-112. De Zorzi faced 171 deliveries collecting 10 fours and two sixes.

South Africa’s own left armer, Muthusamy, was the first wicket to fall in the morning session, edging offspinner Sajid Khan to slip for 11. Prenelan Subrayen (4) edged Noman to the same fielder in the same position and Kagiso Rabada was bowled by offspinner Sajid Khan (3-98), leaving Harmer unbeaten on a doughty 19 from 36 balls with two fours.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Opener Abdullah Shaffique (41) and Babar Azam (42) guiding their team to the verge of impregnability at 119 for three and a lead of 228 with seven wickets in hand, but some reckless batting against disciplined spin bowling saw them lose 7-48 to give the tourists an outside chance on a rapidly deteriorating pitch offering lavish turn with low and unpredictable bounce.

Shaffique clipped, drove and cut six fours from 73 balls before a thunderous straight drive against Muthusamy was remarkably caught by the bowler while Babar faced 72 balls with five fours before Kagiso Rabada (1-33) trapped him lbw with a reversing inswinger.

Saud Shakeel, too, made a promising start before hoisting Muthusamy to Tristan Stubbs on the deep midwicket boundary to depart for 38 from 53 balls (7x4) in the final over before the tea break.

Harmer claimed two quick wickets shortly before lunch to offer the Proteas a door back into the test match, a door that should have been firmly shut on a threadbare pitch deteriorating by the hour.

Harmer was given the new ball along with Rabada and struck immediately when Imam-ul-Haq bizarrely charged out of his crease to play a defensive shot and was comfortably stumped by Kyle Verreynne for a second ball duck.

Captain Shan Masood was equally well beaten by Harmer’s quicker ball which kept low and hit him on the back leg in front of leg stump. Masood’s review revealed the ball to be just clipping leg stump, much to his disgust.

South African captain Aiden Markram (3) was bowled by Noman with an hour’s play remaining and Wiaan Mulder edged the same bowler to slip while attempting to leave his third ball but Rickelton, who made a fluent 71 in the first innings, and de Zorzi took the score from 18 for two to 51 for two to revive hopes.

PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer