South Africa clawed their way back into contention against Pakistan, thanks to a spirited 50-run stand between Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj. The hosts ended the first innings on 285 for 8, still trailing Pakistan’s 333 by 48 runs.

Pakistan dominated the early session, taking four wickets for just 50 runs. On debut, left-arm spinner Asif Afridi impressed with figures of 5 for 61 — becoming the oldest player at 38 years and 299 days to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

Tristan Stubbs, who resumed on 68 overnight, could only add eight runs before being trapped lbw by Asif. His dismissal triggered a collapse that left South Africa struggling at 235 for 8.

However, Muthusamy remained composed and counterattacked effectively, finding support from Maharaj. The pair punished loose deliveries under the second new ball and brought South Africa closer to the 300 mark.

Pakistan’s fielding, however, let them down with three dropped catches and a missed stumping. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nauman Ali shared the new ball but failed to break the stubborn ninth-wicket stand.

With both sides evenly matched, the game remains delicately poised heading into the next day’s play.

Desk news. Just Just weeks after their fiery Asia Cup encounter, India and Pakistan are set to face off once again — this time in the Women’s ODI World Cup. The highly anticipated match will be played in Colombo on Sunday (October 5) at 3:30 PM Bangladesh time.

India’s record against Pakistan in women’s cricket is overwhelmingly dominant. Out of 27 matches across formats, India has won 24, while Pakistan managed just three victories — all in T20s. In ODIs, India holds a perfect 11–0 record.

Pakistan’s main concern remains their inconsistent batting, which faltered in their previous match with frequent wicket losses. Though Fatima Sana and Diana Baig bowled impressively, the rest of the attack failed to provide adequate support.

Playing again at the same Colombo venue could benefit Pakistan, while India, who haven’t played there for some time, might find the conditions challenging.

Interestingly, India’s women’s team did not shake hands with Pakistan’s players during their three Asia Cup games, and a similar situation is expected in this World Cup clash.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said,

“We grew up watching India-Pakistan matches, but we treat every game the same. Our focus is on cricket.”

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana added,

“We try to maintain good relations with all teams and will play in the true spirit of the game.”

The match will be broadcast live on T Sports and Star Sports 1.

India clinched the Asia Cup title in a dramatic final against Pakistan, chasing down a target of 147 runs in 19.4 overs at Dubai on Sunday night (28 September). Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian side secured victory in the last over of the match.

Tilak Varma emerged as the hero of the night, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten half-century that guided India to the title. The encounter kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Celebrations broke out across India soon after the win, with rallies and chants echoing nationalistic fervor. The final carried special significance as it marked the first India-Pakistan Asia Cup title clash in 41 years.

Following the triumph, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Facebook: “Operation Sindoor on the cricket field. The result is the same – India wins! Congratulations to our cricketers.” His remarks also alluded to recent border tensions with Pakistan.

India had launched “Operation Sindoor” after a militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Pakistan, however, claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets during the operation and later mounted retaliatory strikes.