The Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd Test at Rawalpindi created history, an event that had not been experienced previously in almost 150 years of Test cricket. The older players set a new record in Test cricket.

Domination of older players: Keshav Maharaj, Asif Afridi, and Simon Harmer recorded five-wicket hauls

In the first innings of the Test match, while Pakistan scored 333 runs, the 35-year-old South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj recorded a seven-wicket haul as he had the bowling figures of 42.4-5-102-7. After Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon (four times), Maharaj became the second non-Asian bowler to record multiple seven-wicket hauls in Test cricket in Asia, while he previously recorded it in the 2018 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka by recording nine wickets (9/129).

While South Africa replied with 404 all out, the 38-year-old Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who made his international cricket debut, recorded the bowling figures of 34.3-6-79-6.

Pakistan were bundled out for only 138 runs in their second innings, where the 36-year-old off-spinner Simon Harmer claimed a six-fer, as he had the bowling figures of 20-5-50-6. 

See Also: Simon Harmer joins elite 1,000-wicket club with historic Test milestone

First time three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded five-wicket hauls

This is the first time in Test cricket history that three different bowlers over 35 years old recorded a fifer in a Test match. The record of two bowlers over 35 years old claimed the five-wicket haul in a Test match happened 10 times before the 2025 Rawalpindi Test match between Pakistan and South Africa. 

It was the must-win Test for South Africa to only level the series, as they suffered a defeat in the first Test of the two-match Test series by 93 runs at Lahore. While South Africa had a target of 68 runs in the fourth innings, they comfortably chased that target by losing two wickets, as they won the Test match by eight wickets. 

South African spinner Simon Harmer became only the fourth South African to reach 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket on 23 October 2025, during the second Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Harmer, who debuted in first-class cricket in 2009, has built a career defined by consistency and control. Before this series, he hadn’t played Test cricket since 2023, making his recall to the national team a surprise even to him. “I wasn’t expecting to be on the Pakistan tour,” Harmer said. “I want to compete on the biggest stage and deliver match-winning performances.”

Harmer’s First-Class Career Overview

• Five-wicket innings hauls: 58
• Ten-wicket match hauls: 14
• Best innings figures: 9/80 (Essex vs Derbyshire, 2021)

Harmer is now third on the list of South African bowlers with the most first-class wickets, behind Shaun von Berg (Boland) and Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins).

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma Becomes First Asian to Hit 150 Sixes in SENA Countries

All-Time First-Class Wickets Leaders

Maiden Test Five-for

Despite his prolific domestic career, Harmer had never taken a five-wicket haul in international cricket. That changed in Rawalpindi, where he claimed 6 wickets as Pakistan’s innings collapsed to 109 for 8, trailing South Africa by only 38 runs at lunch.

Key wickets:

• Babar Azam – 50 (LBW)
• Mohammad Rizwan – 1
• Noman Ali – 0
• Shaheen Shah Afridi – 0

Harmer’s tight lines and sharp turn, supported by Kagiso Rabada’s reverse swing, sparked a dramatic collapse. South Africa took 3 wickets for 4 runs, exposing Pakistan’s lower order and keeping themselves in strong contention for a rare win on Pakistani soil.

Legacy and Impact

Harmer’s achievement highlights both longevity and skill in professional cricket. After 58 first-class five-wicket hauls, finally claiming a Test fifer marks a career-defining moment. His accuracy, patience, and ability to exploit conditions make him a vital asset for South Africa, especially on spin-friendly pitches.

“I’ve always wanted to put in match-winning performances. Today, I finally did it at the international level,” Harmer reflected. Simon Harmer’s milestone cements his status as one of South Africa’s greatest spinners and a formidable figure in world cricket.