LAHORE: Salman Ali Agha missed a well-deserved century before Pakistan’s spinners came to the party to put a stranglehold over South Africa at stumps on the second day of the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Resuming at 52 in Pakistan’s 313 for five, Salman was the last batter dismissed for 93 as the hosts added 65 more runs to their overnight total to be bowled out for 378. Such was the dominance of Pakistan’s T20I captain that he contributed 41 of those 65 runs in the morning session, which was otherwise dominated by South Africa’s left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy.

The 31-year-old, playing his sixth Test, added four wickets to his two from the previous evening to finish with career-best figures of six for 117.

After South Africa went to tea comfortably placed at 112 for two, Pakistan’s spinners struck back strongly in the final session, claiming four wickets as the visitors limped to 216 for six at close.

In the post-tea session, with South Africa having progressed to 172 for two, Salman broke the 96-run third-wicket partnership between Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi by dismissing the former, opening the door for Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who shared the next three wickets between them.

Noman, who had earlier accounted for Aiden Markram (20) and Wiaan Mulder (17) in the post-lunch session, removed Tristan Stubbs (8) and Kyle Verreynne (2) to finish the day with four for 85. Sajid chipped in with the wicket of Dewald Brevis, who was trapped for a first-ball duck, as the reigning ICC World Test Championship winners ended the day still trailing Pakistan by 162 runs.

South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi was holding the fort, unbeaten on a gritty 81 from 140 balls, including nine fours and a six. When he and Rickelton — who made 75 off 137 balls with nine fours and two sixes — were together, South Africa seemed on course to narrow the deficit, only to be undone by Pakistan’s spin trio.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan repeated Sunday’s script by losing three wickets without addition to the score, slipping from 362 for five to 362 for eight — Muthusamy claiming all three wickets in a single over. He had Mohammad Rizwan caught behind, bowled Noman Ali next ball, and then had Sajid Khan caught in the slips.

Muthusamy later dismissed Shaheen Shah Afridi before Salman, running out of partners and seven short of what would have been his fourth Test century, holed out to Prenelan Subrayen. The off-spinner finished with two for 78.

Salman’s 145-ball innings was decorated with five fours and three sixes. He and Rizwan, who resumed the morning on 62 and struck two fours and two sixes in his 140-ball 75, had earlier added 163 runs for the fifth wicket from 253 deliveries.

With South Africa six down and still 162 runs behind, Pakistan are well placed to secure a meaningful first-innings lead — one that could prove decisive on a pitch already offering considerable assistance to the spinners.

Scores in brief (day 2 of 5):Pakistan (1st innings, overnight 313-5) 378 all-out, 110.4 overs (Salman Ali Agha 93, Imam-ul-Haq 93, Shan Masood 76, Mohammad Rizwan 75, Babar Azam 23; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117, Prenelan Subrayen 2-78).South Africa (1st innings) 216-6, 67 overs (Tony de Zorzi 81 not out, Ryan Rickelton 71, Aiden Markram 20; Noman Ali 4-85, Salman Ali Agha 1-21, Sajid Khan 1-73)