RAWALPINDI – Aiden Markram led from the front as South Africa cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, levelling the two-match series 1-1.

Chasing a modest target of 68, the Proteas openers came out firing. Markram and Ryan Rickelton wasted no time asserting dominance, racing to 50 in just 10 overs. The skipper looked in fine touch, smashing eight boundaries in his brisk 42 off 45 balls before falling to Noman Ali with South Africa just four runs away from victory.

Noman struck again moments later, dismissing Tristan Stubbs for a duck in the same over. However, Rickelton kept his composure, guiding South Africa home without further hiccups. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 25 from 29 deliveries, featuring two fours and a six, while Tony de Zorzi was at the other end yet to face a ball when the winning runs were hit.

Earlier in the day, off-spinner Simon Harmer delivered a career-best performance, claiming 6 for 50 to bundle Pakistan out for a paltry 138 in their second innings. His masterclass of accuracy and variation left South Africa needing just 68 runs for victory.

Pakistan, resuming on 94-4, had pinned their hopes on former captain Babar Azam, who looked composed on his way to a stylish half-century — his 30th in Test cricket. However, Harmer broke the resistance, removing Babar for exactly 50 off 87 balls, a knock decorated with seven crisp boundaries.

From that point, Pakistan’s batting unravelled yet again. Mohammad Rizwan’s fighting 18 off 64 deliveries couldn’t prevent the slide as Harmer continued to wreak havoc. The lower order offered little resistance — Noman Ali fell for a duck, Shaheen Shah Afridi was run out, and Salman Ali Agha’s spirited 28 was cut short by Keshav Maharaj, who finished with two wickets alongside Harmer’s six.

With Rabada also chipping in with a wicket, Pakistan’s innings folded meekly, leaving South Africa in full control.

The commanding victory capped off a strong comeback for the Proteas, ensuring the series ended all square — and setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing next chapter when the sides meet again.