IN HARM’S WAY

SIMON Harmer grabbed three early wickets to push the Proteas closer to a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Harmer took 3/26 as Pakistan ended the third day on a dicey 94/4 – just 23 runs ahead with six wickets and two days remaining on a spin-spiced Rawalpindi pitch.

Pakistan’s laaste hopes rest on Babar Azam, unbeaten on 49, and Mohammad Rizwan, 16 not out, as they strive to win the two-match series, having won the first Test by 93 runs in Lahore.

South Africa piled up 404 runs after Senuran Muthusamy scored a career-best 89 not out and Kagiso Rabada posted his highest Test score of 71, giving the visitors a crucial 71-run lead.

The home span scored 333 in their first innings.

With their backs to the wall, Pakistan’s second innings started disastrously as opener Imam-ul-Haq (nine) and captain Shan Masood (duck) fell to Harmer with the score at 16.

It became 16/3 when Rabada had Abdullah Shafique caught in the slips for six.

Harmer returned for his second spell to dismiss Saud Shakeel, who was caught in the slips for 11.

Earlier, Asif Afridi claimed 6/79. His effort had the Proteas sukkeling on 221/7 as Pakistan looked set for a lead, but Masood’s decision to take the second new ball proved a big mistake.

Muthusamy played an anchor role in helping to add 169 for the last two wickets before Asif ended the innings on the stroke of tea.

Muthusamy defied the Pakistan spinners, hitting eight fours to improve on his previous highest score of 68 not out against Bangladesh at Chattogram last year.

Muthusamy added an invaluable 71 runs for the ninth wicket with Keshav Maharaj (30) and then increased the lead with a last-wicket stand worth 98.

Rabada klapped four sixes and as many fours, improving on the 47 he made against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2022

Day four action kicks off at 7am on Thursday.