South Africa turned the second Test against Pakistan on its head after a dominant display on day three.

The Proteas resumed their innings on 185-4, trailing Pakistan by 148 runs, but a swashbuckling half-century by Kagiso Rabada, an unbeaten 89 from Senuran Muthusamy and a devastating spell from Simon Harmer flipped the script in Rawalpindi.

Tristan Stubbs (76) added just eight runs to his overnight score before Asif Afridi, who took six wickets on debut, trapped him lbw

South Africa lost four wickets for 50 runs in the opening session, but Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj (30) put on a 71-run stand before Rabada smashed 71 runs off 61 balls with four boundaries and just as many maximums.

His 98-run partnership with Muthusamy saw the visitors reach 404 before the Pakistan top order was dismantled by Harmer (3-26).

He dismissed Imam-ul-Haq (nine), Shan Masood (0) and Saud Shakeel (11), while Rabada (1-22) removed Abdullah Shafique (six) all within the first 21 overs.

Babar Azam’s unbeaten 49 and a battling 16 not out from Mohammed Rizwan saw Pakistan finish the day on 94-4, leading by 23 runs.

Stumps, Day 3. #TheProteas Men are in a commanding position after a superb all-round display. 

Pakistan end the day on 94/4 after 35 overs, leading by just 23 runs. pic.twitter.com/Djp3VPYAub

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 22, 2025

Data Debrief: Good day out for the bowlers

Both Muthusamy and Rabada posted their highest scores in the format, with the latter recording the second-fastest half-century in Test cricket (38 balls), behind only Shane Shillingford’s 25-ball 50 in 2014.

Meanwhile, Asif Afridi became the oldest debutant to take a five-wicket haul in men’s Tests, doing so at 38 years and 299 days.

It also means that all five of the five-fers in a single innings in this series have come from left-arm spinners.