Kagiso Rabada strikes late with second new ball to keep Proteas in the hunt in Rawalpindi

The Proteas fought back in the final session but Pakistan remained in control on the opening day of the second Test in Rawalpindi.

Kagiso Rabada claimed the big scalp of Mohammad Rizwan (19) with the second new ball, while Keshav Maharaj prevented Pakistan captain Shan Masood (87) from reaching his century.

The double dismissal brought some relief to the Proteas after the visitors endured a nightmare day in the field, dropping numerous catches and plenty more edges falling just short and wide of particularly the slip fielders.

Marco Jansen returned to the starting XI to play his first Test on the subcontinent. The lanky left-armer discovered just what hard work it is as he found the outside edge on a few occasions, but somehow it evaded the fielders with Simon Harmer, in particular, just not being able to get down in time. 

Jansen (0/42) even hit the stumps in the first session, but the bails were not dislodged. 

Fellow returnee Maharaj enjoyed a better day. Although he too had Masood dropped by Senuran Muthusamy at square-leg on 71, Maharaj toiled away for 31 overs for figures of 2/63.

Maharaj’s marathon spell meant that first Test hero Muthusamy bowled just four overs for the entire day - equal to that of captain Aiden Markram’s part-time spin. 

Arguably, the Proteas’ most threatening bowler of the day was Harmer, who accounted for the opening two wickets. The off-spinner delivered the final over of the day, but could not manage to get through the defences of Salman Agha and Saud Shakeel.

The pair will resume on 10 not out and 42 not out respectively. 

Second Test, Day 2, Stumps

Pakistan: 249/5 (Masood 87, Shakeel 42*, Maharaj 2/63, Harmer 2/75)

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat