Shan Masood and Babar Azam shared a record-breaking opening partnership as Pakistan fought back after conceding a 421-run first-innings deficit on day three of the second Test at Newlands on Sunday. Pakistan were 213 for 1 in their subsequent innings, but were still 208 short of South Africa coming back to bat. Pakistan captain Masood scored 102, his sixth Test century, while Babar scored 81, his third successive half-century in the series.
Babar, who has not scored 100 international points since August 2023, fell short once again as he was caught in Marco Jansen’s ditch 14 minutes before the end of the game.
The partnership of 205 was Pakistan’s highest for their first wicket in a Test against South Africa. It also exceeded Pakistan’s first innings total of 194, which prompted South African captain Temba Bavuma to follow up.
It was the second important partnership of the day for Babar, who had to open the batting after Saim Ayub was ruled out of the game with a broken right ankle.
Babar hit 58 in the first innings and hit 98 in the fourth innings along with Mohammad Rizwan (46), but collapsed due to retirement.
Babar and Rizwan resumed on 64 for the night and batted comfortably for the first hour, fending off the threat of South Africa’s best strike bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Jansen.
After the morning drinks break, 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka broke the stand with five balls after Bava was caught behind by Kyle Verreynne and slipped a loose ball down the leg side. I did it.
Babar batted solidly in his 127-ball innings. He stood there looking in disbelief that he had been fired before returning to the pavilion.
Rizwan followed five overs later when he charged up the pitch against Wiaan Mulder and lobbed a wild slog into his stumps.
Resistance from the remaining hitters was minimal.
Masood and Babar showed that there were no devils in the pitch that saw South Africa score 615 runs in the second innings.
They kept the scoreboard ticking with positive stroke play and good running between the wickets and were rarely in danger of going out.
South Africa’s frustration reached its peak when Mulder threw a ball that was strongly countered by Babar and was then thrown to the number 56 batsman.
The incident led to an exchange of words involving wicketkeeper Verreynne and the intervention of the umpire.
Left-handed Masood threw 159 pitches and hit 14 hits.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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