Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj took seven wickets before Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi contributed with the bat to leave the second Test against Pakistan in the balance.

Maharaj’s 12th five-wicket Test haul helped bowl Pakistan out for 333 on a spin-friendly pitch in Rawalpindi.

Veteran Pakistan debutant spinner Asif Afridi then grabbed the crucial wickets of De Zorzi (55) and Dewald Brevis for nought to restrict South Africa to 185-4 in their reply.

At close on day two, Stubbs was batting on 68 having added an invaluable 113 runs for the third wicket with De Zorzi, who scored a polished half-century to lift the visitors from 54-2.

When it looked like the pair would stabilise the innings the 38-year-old spinner Asif trapped De Zorzi lbw and earned his first wicket on review.

In his next over he had Brevis caught in the slips without scoring.

Kyle Verreynne was the other unbeaten batsman at the close, on 10, with South Africa trailing by 148 runs as they attempt to square the series after losing the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs.

Asif has figures of 2-24 while Sajid Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi took a wicket apiece.

HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan vs Proteas (2nd Test, Day 2)

In South Africa’s reply, fast bowler Shaheen struck early to remove Ryan Rickelton caught behind for 14.

Visiting captain Aiden Markram tried to take the attack to the home spinners, clouting debutant Asif for a six before holing out off Sajid at long-on for 32.

The highlight of the day was some superb bowling by Maharaj.

The left-armer, who missed the first Test defeat with injury, exploited the dry Rawalpindi pitch to maximum effect.

Pakistan resumed on 259-5 and reached 316 untroubled when the Maharaj show began.

Having taken two wickets on the opening day, he broke through the defence of Salman Agha, trapping him lbw for 45 to give the Test world champions hope of wrapping up the innings quickly.

Agha hit five fours and added 70 for the sixth wicket with Saud Shakeel.

Shakeel looked steady and reached his 10th half-century with a couple off Maharaj. But the spinner had him caught in the slips for 66 and it triggered a collapse.

Maharaj bowled Shaheen for nought, completing his first five-wicket haul against Pakistan.

He then wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Sajid (five) and Asif (four) as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 17 runs.

Photo: Sameer Ali/Getty Images