Keshav Maharaj believes day one of South Africa's second Test against Pakistan was "even" and a call-back to "old-fashioned Test cricket".

Pakistan finished the day on 259-5 after 91 overs, having overcome a slow start to claw their way back into a comfortable position during the third session.

Maharaj finished with the best bowling figures of 2-63, dismissing both Shan Masood (87) and Babar Azam (16).

Simon Harmer also took two wickets, also stopping a half-centurion in Abdullah Shafique (57).

Despite limiting Pakistan to fewer than three runs an over early on, the hosts did storm to 146-1, but South Africa clawed their way back into the contest.

"I think it was an even day," Maharaj, who missed the first Test with a groin injury, said. "We managed to control their run rate.

"When the ball gets softer – which happens quite quickly because the wicket's quite hard. We managed to just go to old-fashioned Test cricket.

"I felt if we got one more wicket at night, we'd probably have had a little bit of an upper hand."

Stumps on Day 1.

A day of resilience and fight from #TheProteas Men as Pakistan close the day on 259/5 after 91 overs. 

The battle continues tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/4lO0Oq7PqQ

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 20, 2025

However, it could have been an even better day for the Proteas, who dropped four catches, including spurning three opportunities to dismiss Shafique.

They still limited Pakistan to 54 fewer runs than they did on the first day of the Test in Lahore, and Maharaj is hopeful South Africa can carry their late momentum into Tuesday's action.

"It's an important day," Maharaj said. "The first sessions in the series so far have been quite action-packed.

"Hopefully, we can make inroads [on Tuesday] morning. The main thing is to try bowling as many dot balls as we can. We saw for a period of time when we did do it, that it brought us a little bit of reward, and we created opportunities.

"I think it's important we start really well. Hopefully, we can get Saud [Shakeel] and [Salman Ali] Agha early in the morning and open up an end with the lower-order batters. But it's about just trying to bowl our best balls for long periods of time."