Media365
South African spinner Senuran Muthusamy recorded career-best figures of 6-117 to wrap up Pakistan’s innings early in the day. De Zorzi remained not out alongside Muthusamy on six at close of play.
De Zorzi’s resolute innings included nine boundaries and a six while facing Noman Ali, who finished with figures of 4-85.
The South African innings started promisingly with an opening stand of 45 before Noman removed captain Aiden Markram for 20 and Wiaan Mulder for 17, both caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Ryan Rickelton and De Zorzi then constructed a 94-run partnership for the third wicket, with Rickelton scoring an aggressive 71 featuring 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.
“We need to get them out as early as possible and a 120-run lead would help us win this Test,” said Noman. “This pitch will further help spinners in the coming days so it’s good for us.”
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings concluded quickly as they lost their final five wickets for just 16 runs. Muthusamy, who improved upon his previous best of 4-45 against Bangladesh, led the bowling attack.
“It was really nice to add value to the team by getting wickets,” Muthusamy said. “It was not ideal to have lost wicket close to stumps, but we will fight back tomorrow.”
Salman Agha’s innings of 93, containing 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 struck three times in the 12th over of the day.
