Match Overview
The South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard for the second Test of the 2025 series reveals a dominant performance by the visitors in Rawalpindi. Played between October 20 and October 23, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, this crucial encounter was the decider after Pakistan had taken a 1-0 lead in Lahore.
Winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first on a pitch that offered significant assistance to spinners as the match progressed. The home side posted a respectable 333 in their first innings, thanks to a resilient 87 from captain Shan Masood. However, South Africa’s spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer proved too difficult to handle, with Maharaj claiming a magnificent 7-wicket haul.
In response, South Africa displayed superior batting depth, scoring 404 in their first innings. Senuran Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89 and Kagiso Rabada’s aggressive 71 helped the Proteas build a crucial 71-run lead. Pakistan’s collapse in the second innings, where they were bowled out for just 138, set up an easy target for South Africa. Chasing just 73 runs, the visitors reached the target with ease, losing only two wickets. Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram guided the team home, securing an 8-wicket victory. This result leveled the series at 1-1, with Simon Harmer being named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution, including a devastating 6/50 in the second innings.
Pakistan Batting Scorecard (1st Innings)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullah Shafique | c Rickelton b Rabada | 12 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 35.29 |
| Shan Masood | c de Zorzi b Maharaj | 87 | 198 | 9 | 0 | 43.93 |
| Babar Azam | lbw b Harmer | 21 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Saud Shakeel | c Verreynne b Maharaj | 66 | 142 | 7 | 0 | 46.47 |
| Salman Agha | b Maharaj | 45 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 50.56 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | c Elgar b Harmer | 18 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 43.90 |
| Aamer Jamal | c Markram b Maharaj | 14 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Mir Hamza | not out | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 53.33 |
| Noman Ali | b Maharaj | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Sajid Khan | c Verreynne b Maharaj | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Naseem Shah | b Maharaj | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 16 | |||||
| Total | 333 | (113.4 overs) |
Pakistan Bowling Figures (1st Innings)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | 22 | 3 | 88 | 1 | 4.00 |
| Mir Hamza | 28.3 | 5 | 79 | 6 | 2.77 |
| Noman Ali | 35 | 4 | 112 | 2 | 3.20 |
| Sajid Khan | 24 | 2 | 98 | 1 | 4.08 |
| Salman Agha | 10 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 2.70 |
South Africa Batting Scorecard (1st Innings)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony de Zorzi | c Rizwan b Mir Hamza | 55 | 102 | 6 | 0 | 53.92 |
| Ryan Rickelton | c Masood b Noman Ali | 76 | 145 | 9 | 1 | 52.41 |
| Temba Bavuma | lbw b Sajid Khan | 12 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 35.29 |
| Aiden Markram | c Shakeel b Mir Hamza | 34 | 67 | 4 | 0 | 50.74 |
| David Bedingham | b Noman Ali | 28 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 50.90 |
| Kyle Verreynne | c Rizwan b Mir Hamza | 19 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 45.23 |
| Senuran Muthusamy | not out | 89 | 168 | 10 | 1 | 52.97 |
| Keshav Maharaj | c Babar b Mir Hamza | 14 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 63.63 |
| Kagiso Rabada | c Rizwan b Mir Hamza | 71 | 89 | 8 | 3 | 79.77 |
| Simon Harmer | b Mir Hamza | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dane Paterson | not out | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Extras | 4 | |||||
| Total | 404 | (119.3 overs) |
South Africa Bowling Figures (1st Innings)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane Paterson | 24 | 4 | 72 | 1 | 3.00 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 26 | 5 | 81 | 1 | 3.11 |
| Simon Harmer | 32 | 6 | 75 | 2 | 2.34 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 31.4 | 8 | 102 | 7 | 3.22 |
Pakistan Batting Scorecard (2nd Innings)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullah Shafique | c Verreynne b Harmer | 5 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 27.77 |
| Shan Masood | b Harmer | 12 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 41.37 |
| Babar Azam | c Markram b Harmer | 50 | 88 | 6 | 0 | 56.81 |
| Saud Shakeel | lbw b Maharaj | 8 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 36.36 |
| Salman Agha | c Bavuma b Harmer | 15 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 44.11 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | b Harmer | 22 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 53.65 |
| Aamer Jamal | c Rickelton b Maharaj | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Mir Hamza | not out | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Noman Ali | b Harmer | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sajid Khan | c de Zorzi b Maharaj | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Naseem Shah | b Maharaj | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 14 | |||||
| Total | 138 | (49.3 overs) |
Pakistan Bowling Figures (2nd Innings)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Mir Hamza | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3.00 |
| Noman Ali | 3.3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 4.28 |
| Sajid Khan | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 |
(Note: South Africa chased the target of 73 in their 2nd innings, finishing at 73/2. Top scorers were Aiden Markram 42 and Ryan Rickelton 25*.)*
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
The South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard tells the story of a game dominated by spin bowling and tactical batting. The turning point of the match was undoubtedly Keshav Maharaj’s first-innings spell. On a Rawalpindi pitch that began to break up on Day 3, Maharaj exploited the rough patches created by the pacers, dismantling Pakistan’s middle order. His figures of 7/102 were not just statistically impressive but psychologically damaging for the home side, restricting them to a total that looked competitive but was ultimately insufficient against a deep South African batting lineup.
Senuran Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89 in the first innings was a masterclass in patience and accumulation. Coming in at a precarious stage, he anchored the innings alongside Kagiso Rabada, whose counter-attacking 71 shifted the momentum firmly in South Africa’s favor. Rabada’s ability to score quickly against the spinners allowed South Africa to extend their lead beyond 70 runs, putting immense pressure on Pakistan to bat flawlessly in the fourth innings.
However, it was Simon Harmer who delivered the knockout blow. In the second innings, Harmer returned figures of 6/50, tearing through Pakistan’s top and middle order. Babar Azam’s valiant 50 was the only resistance, but once he fell, the collapse was inevitable. The fall of wickets in clusters highlighted Pakistan’s struggle against high-quality off-spin on a deteriorating surface.
This match also marked a significant milestone for South Africa’s resilience away from home. Winning a Test match in Pakistan has historically been one of the toughest challenges in cricket, but the Proteas’ ability to adapt to the conditions and outplay the hosts in the spin department showcased their growth as a touring unit. For Pakistan, the loss of key wickets to spin in both innings remains a concern heading into future home series.
Head-to-Head Record (Test Matches)
| Format | Matches | South Africa Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 28 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
(Note: Stats updated post-October 2025 series)
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test match? A: South Africa won the 2nd Test match against Pakistan by 8 wickets. They successfully chased down the target of 73 runs in their second innings.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match in the Rawalpindi Test? A: Simon Harmer was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance, particularly his 6/50 in the second innings which sealed the victory for South Africa.
Q: What was the final result of the South Africa vs Pakistan Test series? A: The Test series ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs, while South Africa won the second Test in Rawalpindi by 8 wickets.
Q: When and where was the 2nd Test between South Africa and Pakistan played? A: The 2nd Test was played from October 20 to October 23, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Q: Who was the top scorer for Pakistan in the 2nd Test? A: Shan Masood was the top scorer for Pakistan in the first innings with 87 runs. In the second innings, Babar Azam top-scored with 50 runs.
Conclusion
The South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard from the 2nd Test in Rawalpindi highlights a comprehensive victory for the visitors. By leveling the series 1-1, South Africa demonstrated their capability to compete and win in challenging subcontinental conditions. The standout performances from Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer with the ball, coupled with resilient batting from Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada, were instrumental in this success. As both teams look ahead to future engagements, this series will be remembered for its competitive spirit and the pivotal role of spin bowling. Fans can expect more thrilling contests as these two cricketing nations continue their rivalry in upcoming formats.
