Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi made important breakthroughs while Pakistan continued to battle, reaching tea on day two on 178-6.
Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam frustrated the Proteas bowlers throughout the morning session in Karachi.
The pair were focused and determined to keep their side in the contest before Maharaj broke the 94-run partnership with the big wicket of Ali, caught behind by Quinton de Kock for 51.
Lunch: Pakistan batsmen consolidate
Alam was joined by Mohammed Rizwan in the middle and batted with good composure, bringing up his half-century in the process.
Rizwan didn’t hang around and raced to 33 when he was brilliantly caught by Faf du Plessis off a Lungi Ngidi delivery.
The hosts will head into the final session of the day still trailing the Proteas by 42 runs.
The Proteas, though, will have to see out the innings without any reviews left, having carelessly used them up.
? WICKET | MAGIC MAHARAJ
Keshav Maharaj’s toil has been rewarded as he finds Azhar Ali’s edge and Quinton de Kock does the rest
?? Pakistan 121/5 after 54 overs
? Watch the match on SuperSport 212
? Ball by Ball https://t.co/ziwmIMr0yg#PAKvSA #SeeUsOnThePitch— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 27, 2021
Pakistan: Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammed Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Yasir Shah.
Proteas: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (c; wk), Temba Bavuma, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.
