PAK vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Match Day 3: Pakistan in driver's seat in Lahore
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Oct 15, 2025, 09:30:35 IST
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PAK vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Match Day 3: Pakistan in driver's seat in Lahore

PAK vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Match Day 3: Pakistani spinner Noman Ali claimed four wickets as South Africa struggled to 216-6 at stumps on day two of the first Test in Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, despite Tony de Zorzi's unbeaten 81. The visitors trail Pakistan's first innings total of 378 by 162 runs on a turning pitch where all 11 wickets fell to spin bowling on Monday.

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.
09:34 (IST) Oct 14
PAK vs SA, Day 3 Live: Muthusamy strikes with a triple-wicket over
South African left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy wreaked havoc with a career-best 6/117. In a brilliant triple-wicket maiden, he reduced Pakistan from 362/5 to 362/8. Muthusamy also had Noman Ali bowled and Shan Masood caught at slip, nearly completing a second hat-trick of the innings.
09:33 (IST) Oct 14
Pakistan vs South Africa Live: Pakistan innings highlights
Pakistan resumed on 313/5 on a dry, variable-bounce wicket. Salman Ali Agha (93) and Mohammad Rizwan (75) extended the sixth-wicket partnership to 163, showcasing aggressive strokeplay against South Africa’s spinners. Agha survived an lbw referral and struck multiple sixes, frustrating the visiting bowlers before Rizwan edged Muthusamy behind.
09:32 (IST) Oct 14
PAK vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Match Day 3: Welcome
If not for a dramatic collapse of 4 wickets for 26 runs, South Africa might have held the upper hand. At one point, they were 174/2 with two batters in half-century territory, but in just ten overs, they slumped to 200/6 as the ball turned sharply and kept low, troubling the batters. Noman and Sajid got some assistance from the pitch, yet amid the chaos, de Zorzi stood firm, finishing unbeaten on 81. South Africa will be relying on him to steer them closer to Pakistan’s total, still 162 runs ahead, as a crucial Day 3 looms.
PAK vs SA Live Score, 1st Test Match Day 3: Pakistan spinner Noman Ali claimed four wickets as South Africa reached 216-6 on the second day of the first Test in Lahore on Monday. South Africa trails by 162 runs, with Tony de Zorzi standing unbeaten at 81 on a challenging batting surface after Pakistan posted 378 in their first innings.

South Africa's Senuran Muthusamy earlier recorded career-best figures of 6-117, including three wickets in four deliveries, to help wrap up Pakistan's innings in the morning session.

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha fell short of a century, being dismissed for 93 as the last wicket of their innings.

De Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton (71) provided stability to South Africa's innings with a crucial 94-run partnership for the third wicket, taking the score to 174-2 before a collapse saw them lose four wickets for just 26 runs.

Captain Aiden Markram reached the milestone of 3,000 Test runs before being dismissed for 20, while Wiaan Mulder was caught behind off Noman Ali for 17.

The partnership between Rickelton and de Zorzi proved effective against Pakistan's spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, with both batsmen showing good footwork and deep crease play.

The promising stand was broken when Salman Agha induced an edge from Rickelton, with Babar Azam taking a spectacular one-handed catch in the slips.

De Zorzi overcame a nervous start, edging two boundaries through the slips off Hasan Ali, before settling in against the spinners with an impressive display of shot-making.

South Africa's inexperienced duo of Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis struggled against spin, with Stubbs edging behind for 8 and Brevis falling for a duck to Sajid Khan.

Noman Ali further strengthened Pakistan's position by dismissing Kyle Verreynne lbw before stumps.