CAPE TOWN: Pakistan mounted a strong comeback after being forced to follow on by South Africa, as captain Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam put together a record-breaking 205-run opening partnership on Day 3 of the second Test at Newlands on Sunday.
At the close of play, Pakistan stood at 213/1, trailing South Africa by 208 runs, with Shan Masood on 102* and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad unbeaten on 8.
The final session of the day was dominated by the record partnership between Masood and Azam, who batted with determination following Pakistan’s collapse to 194 in their first innings in response to South Africa’s massive total of 615.
Masood brought up his sixth Test century and remained not out on 102 by stumps, while Babar fell just shy of a century, caught in the slip off Marco Jansen for 81 from 124 balls, including 10 boundaries.
Khurram Shahzad then joined Shan at the crease and played out the remaining overs, ending the day with 8 runs off 14 balls.
Earlier, Pakistan’s batting woes continued in the second session as they were bowled out for a modest 194, trailing by 421 runs. South Africa dominated the session, taking the remaining three wickets for just 39 runs.
Kagiso Rabada got the first breakthrough, dismissing Aamir Jamal (15) with a bouncer in the fifth over of the session. Tailenders Mir Hamza (13) and Khurram Shahzad (14) showed some resistance before both were dismissed by Keshav Maharaj and Kwena Maphaka.
At the end of the first session, Pakistan were struggling at 155/6, with Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad at the crease. The morning had started relatively well for Pakistan as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 88 runs, but Babar was dismissed for a gritty 58 off 127 balls, caught by Maphaka off his debut delivery.
Rizwan added 46 off 82 balls before falling to Mulder, and Salman Ali Agha was stumped for 19 off Maharaj’s delivery. With those wickets, Pakistan had lost four quick wickets, leaving them at 155/6.
Pakistan’s innings resumed in the second session with Aamir and Khurram still at the crease, trailing by 460 runs. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada had taken two wickets, while Marco Jansen, Maphaka, Mulder, and Maharaj each claimed one.
Playing XI: Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.
