October 24, 2025: The Pakistan cricket team lost to South Africa by 8 wickets in the second Test of the two-match series. The match was played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan had prepared a spin-friendly pitch to trap the visiting team, but they fell into their own trap. South Africa’s spinners performed better and played a key role in their team’s win.

Pakistan’s Defeat Against South Africa

In the first innings, Pakistan scored 333 runs. South Africa replied with 404 runs. In the second innings, Pakistan was all out for just 138 runs. South Africa needed 68 runs to win in the fourth innings, which they chased easily, losing only two wickets.

Harmer Leads South Africa to Victory

In this match, spinner Simon Harmer took his first five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 6 for 50 and laying the base for South Africa’s win. With this victory, South Africa leveled the series 1-1. Pakistan, who were second in the ICC World Test Championship points table after winning the first match, have now dropped to fourth place.

Pakistan’s Fall in the Points Table

Pakistan is now in fourth place with 12 points from two matches, having 1 win and 1 loss with a 50% record. South Africa is in fifth place with the same record—12 points and a 50% percentage. Australia leads the table with 36 points, followed by Sri Lanka with 16 points in second place and India in third with 25 points and a 61.90% win rate.

Harmer and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj played a big role in South Africa’s first win of this ICC World Test Championship cycle, taking 17 wickets together and bowling out Pakistan for 138 in the second innings. Harmer took 6 wickets for 50 runs in 20 overs, including 5 maiden overs.

Chasing a small target of 68 runs, Aiden Markram played attacking shots against Pakistani spinners but was out LBW for 42 when only four runs were needed. Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for a duck soon after, but Ryan Rickelton finished the match with a six, remaining not out on 25.