LAHORE: Babar Azam’s century drought stretched to 28 innings, but the star batter top-scored for Pakistan in the second innings as left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy’s 10-wicket match haul gave South Africa a glimmer of hope in the first cricket Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Babar was trapped lbw by fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for a 72-ball 42 as Pakistan collapsed dramatically, losing six wickets for 17 runs to be bowled out for 167. Muthusamy followed up his six for 117 in the first innings with five for 57, returning match figures of 11 for 174 – the fourth-best by a South African spinner in Test cricket.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer provided excellent support, claiming four for 51 as 16 wickets tumbled on the third day — following five on day one and 11 on day two.

Chasing 277 for victory, South Africa closed at 51 for two in 22 overs, with Noman Ali taking both wickets for 20 runs. Ryan Rickelton (29) and Tony de Zorzi (16) will resume on Wednesday for what promises to be an enthralling penultimate day, with South Africa requiring another 226 runs and Pakistan needing eight wickets to go one-up in the two-Test series.

Earlier in the day, de Zorzi registered his second career century in 14 Tests as South Africa were bowled out for 269 in reply to Pakistan’s 378. The visitors, who began the day at 216 for six, conceded a 107-run first-innings lead.

De Zorzi resumed on 81 and was the eighth man out for a fluent and elegant 104 off 171 balls, laced with 10 fours and a six.

The 39-year-old Noman Ali continued his fairytale run, finishing with six for 112. In the past 12 months, he has returned impressive figures of 3-101, 8-46, 3-88, 6-42, 5-39, 1-42, 6-41, 4-80, and 4-85. He now has eight wickets in the match and is poised to emulate Muthusamy’s 11-wicket performance.

With a 107-run lead in hand, Pakistan were expected to bat South Africa out of the contest when they reached 150 for four. However, a reckless collapse saw them bundled out for just 167.

The slide began in the final over before tea when Saud Shakeel attempted to loft Muthusamy out of the park but found the fielder at deep midwicket. Four balls after tea, Mohammad Rizwan danced down the track to Harmer and was bowled. Shaheen Shah Afridi tried to entertain the crowd with an audacious reverse sweep but was caught at point.

Salman Ali Agha, who had scored 93 in the first innings, was bowled around his legs attempting a sweep; Noman Ali was trapped lbw; and Sajid Khan was caught at mid-on — wrapping up a horror passage in which Pakistan lost six wickets for 17 runs in just 41 balls.

Pakistan’s second innings began in dramatic fashion when Imam-ul-Haq, who also made 93 in the first innings, was stumped off Harmer in the second over. Shan Masood was again adjudged lbw to Muthusamy — and, as in the first innings, his review confirmed the ball was hitting the stumps.

Much to the delight of the small crowd, Shan’s dismissal brought Babar Azam to the crease. He played several exquisite strokes to lift the atmosphere, but when he looked set for a significant knock, he missed an inswinger from Rabada, leaving fans disappointed once again.

Still, Babar’s fluent 42, featuring five boundaries, was an encouraging sign that his first century since December 2022 may not be far away.

Babar added 31 for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique, who atoned for a first-innings failure with a solid 41 off 73 balls, including six fours. He was the third Pakistan batter dismissed with the total on 64; the score later slipped to 119 for four when Babar fell to Rabada.

Rabada bowled 10 overs in the second innings after sending down 17 in the first. In contrast, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled only five overs in South Africa’s first innings, was yet to turn his arm over in the second.

Scores in brief (day 3 of 5):

Pakistan 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) and 167 all-out (Babar Azam 43, Abdullah Shafique 42, Saud Shakeel 38; Senuran Muthusamy 5-57; Simon Harmer 4-51)

South Africa (overnight 216-6), 269 all-out, 84 overs (Tony de Zorzi 104, Ryan Rickelton 71, Aiden Markram 20; Noman Ali 6-112, Sajid Khan 3-98) and 51-2 (Ryan Rickelton 29 not out, Tony de Zorzi 16 not out; Noman Ali 2-20)