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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head into the tea break at 177 for 3 on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi, having weathered a slightly challenging second session after a solid start in the morning.&nbsp;Captain Shan Masood continues to hold the innings together, unbeaten on 77 off 144 balls, with Saud Shakeel (6*) alongside him at the crease. The pair will resume after tea, with Pakistan looking to build on the platform laid earlier in the day.&nbsp;South Africa fought back in the second session, picking up two important wickets. Abdullah Shafique, who had shared a 111-run stand with Masood, was dismissed for a well-compiled 57 from 146 deliveries, edging to the keeper off Simon Harmer.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1980210328723181658&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f8a7a90fa9429be4d140d105fb3ce4c2b28c3504&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VGOTEL Mobile Presents Bank Alfalah Pakistan vs South Africa Test Series 2025🏏 Second Test ☕ Tea Break, Day 1! Pakistan 177-3 after 62 overs, skipper Shan Masood is still out there on 77 runs 🏏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/kJb5kxXiIw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/kJb5kxXiIw</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1980210328723181658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 20, 2025</a></blockquote></div>Then, just before the interval, Babar Azam fell for 16, brilliantly caught at short cover by Tony de Zorzi off Keshav Maharaj &mdash; a moment that lifted the visitors after a sluggish fielding display.&nbsp;Earlier, Pakistan had started the day confidently after winning the toss and electing to bat on a dry surface. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Shafique added 35 for the first wicket before Imam was bowled by Harmer for 17, beaten by a sharply turning delivery.&nbsp;The introduction of Masood saw Pakistan consolidate, with both batters playing cautiously and accelerating towards the lunch break.&nbsp;By tea, the hosts had faced 62 overs at a run rate of 2.85. South Africa&rsquo;s spinners found more assistance in the second session, with Maharaj and Harmer applying pressure, but Pakistan&rsquo;s top order, led by a composed and measured knock from Masood, ensured the innings remained well-poised.&nbsp;With Rizwan and Agha Salman still to come, and the ball beginning to show signs of turn, the final session promises a key passage in this contest, one where South Africa will aim to capitalise, and Pakistan will look to press on.

Cricket

Pakistan are 177-3 at Tea on Day 1; Masood not out on 77, Saud Shakeel on 6.

Articles tagged with "Rawalpindi Test"

Second Test: Masood holds fort after Pakistan lose two quick wickets

Second Test: Masood holds fort after Pakistan lose two quick wickets