Babar and Masood Fight Back for Pakistan After Follow-On

After being bowled out for 194 in their first innings, leaving them 421 runs behind, Pakistan showed resilience in their second innings. Shan Masood and Babar Azam provided solid resistance, putting up their highest-ever opening stand against South Africa. Masood, who had not passed 30 in his previous eight innings, scored his sixth Test century, becoming the first Pakistan captain to score a hundred in South Africa. Babar, filling in for the injured Saim Ayub, made 81 as the pair chipped away at Pakistan’s significant deficit. By the close of play, Pakistan had reduced their gap to 208 runs, with nine wickets still intact.

South Africa’s five frontline bowlers struggled on a flat pitch that remained favorable for batting, showing signs of turn but offering little else. They also bowled 23 no-balls across both innings, including 10 in the second innings alone, a discipline issue they will regret. Their only breakthrough came late in the day when Babar chased a wide, full delivery from Marco Jansen and edged to slip. Nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad joined Masood at the crease to see out the day.

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Masood and Babar Lead Pakistan’s Resilience After Follow-On

After dismissing Pakistan for 194 midway through the afternoon session, South Africa enforced the follow-on with hopes of finishing the game quickly. However, Kagiso Rabada and Jansen struggled to find the right length, and although Rabada got an edge from Masood on 18, the ball flew through the vacant third-slip region, missing the chance for a breakthrough. The change bowlers, Wiaan Mulder and Kwena Maphaka, failed to pose a serious threat, and Pakistan went into tea at 80 without loss.

Rabada and Keshav Maharaj returned for the evening session, with Rabada trying a short-ball strategy, while Maharaj found turn. Pakistan’s openers, Masood and Babar Azam, played them with composure. Masood brought up his fifty with a pull shot off Rabada, while Babar raised his with a drive off Jansen. Babar’s fifty marked his third consecutive on this tour, having also reached the milestone in the first innings. The intensity on the field increased when Mulder, frustrated, threw the ball at Babar as he stepped out of his crease, hitting him on the shin. Umpire Dharmasena intervened to calm the situation.

Masood continued to impress, reaching his century with a flick off Jansen, and celebrated with a glance skyward. Babar, seemingly on course to follow suit, was dismissed for 81 when he edged a slower delivery from Jansen to Bedingham at slip, giving him his fifth catch of the day. While Babar fell short of a century, his 108-run day, comprising 27 runs from the overnight score and 81 from the second innings, was a key contribution for Pakistan.

Pakistan Struggles Against South Africa’s Seamers After Follow-On

Pakistan resumed their innings at 64 for 3 under overcast conditions, facing early challenges from South Africa’s seamers. Rabada and Jansen both tested the Pakistan batters with movement and bounce, though they were unable to make any breakthroughs early on. Jansen delivered a blow to Mohammad Rizwan’s collarbone, but Rizwan recovered to strike the bowler for four and six in the same over. Babar Azam played confidently, bringing up the Pakistan hundred with an edge through the slips and his fifty with a boundary off Rabada. However, disaster struck when debutant Kwena Maphaka angled one down leg, and Babar, attempting to flick it, edged to the keeper, falling for 53.

With the Babar-Rizwan partnership broken on 98, Rizwan became the next target. He attempted an aggressive shot off Mulder to reach his fifty but under-edged the ball onto his stumps. Soon after, Salman Agha was stumped after being drawn forward by a delivery from Maharaj that turned past his outside edge. Pakistan’s batting woes continued as they lost 6 wickets for 76 runs between lunch and the afternoon session, many of them falling to loose shots. Aamer Jamal was dismissed by a pull off Rabada, while Khurram Shahzad failed to keep a square drive down.

At 208 runs behind, Pakistan’s task remains daunting. The pitch is expected to deteriorate from day four, offering turn for the spinners, but it still remains conducive to run-scoring. Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s early shot selection may be a point of reflection, especially as they now face the prospect of taking on South Africa’s bowlers with only eight wickets left to claim. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be without Ayub, who has an ankle fracture and will travel to London for treatment.