Shan Masood And Babar Azam 205 Runs Partnership
Shan Masood (102*) and Babar Azam (81) put together a 205-run opening partnership in Pakistan’s second innings on Day 3 at Newlands, marking a strong comeback after South Africa had previously enforced the follow-on in the second Test. This partnership stands as the second highest ever for Pakistan against South Africa for any wicket in Tests, following only the 219-run partnership by Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan at the same venue in 2013. By the end of the day, the visitors had reduced South Africa’s lead to 208 from 421, a feat that had seemed nearly impossible after Pakistan was dismissed for 194 in their first innings.
After resuming at 80/0 following the Tea break, Shan Masood and Babar Azam showcased some graceful drives and cuts that found the boundary on a pitch that favored aggressive batting. They both enjoyed considerable success with the pull shot against the fast bowlers, bringing up their 100-run partnership. With no pressure exerted on them and some frustration boiling over, Wiaan Mulder hurled the ball back at Azam after he drove it back at him, drawing a reaction from the crowd.
The home team also wasted a review for a short-leg catch, as technology revealed that the Pakistani captain had not edged the ball. The hosts were further faulted for bowling 10 no balls in the second innings, bringing their total no balls to an alarming 23 after bowling 13 in their first innings.
As the day’s play neared its conclusion, Shan Masood experienced some nerves while in the nineties but managed to time a shot to the boundary past mid-on. However, Azam’s concentration wavered towards the end of play as he thick-edged an aggressive drive to gully, providing the hosts with their lone breakthrough of the session. Nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad ensured that no additional harm came to the visitors before the stumps were drawn.
Earlier in the second session, South Africa enforced the follow-on against Pakistan. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Aamer Jamal right after lunch, but his next over turned out to be eventful, as Shahzad and new batsman Mir Hamza hit him for 15 runs. However, Keshav Maharaj interrupted Hamza’s brief stay by getting him to clip a catch to short-leg, and then Kwena Maphaka wrapped up the innings by dismissing Shahzad.
Sensing an opportunity, South Africa decided to put the tourists back in to bat and executed the follow-on, but the new-ball combination of Rabada and Marco Jansen didn’t cause the same troubles as in the first innings. Masood and Azam consistently found the boundary, scoring over 20 runs in each of their opening overs against these new-ball bowlers.
This followed Pakistan’s poor performance in the first session, where Azam fell just five balls after the drinks break, caught down the leg side by Maphaka—marking the bowler’s first-ever Test wicket—which prompted him to celebrate excitedly across the Newlands outfield.
Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed after playing a careless shot, chopping one from Mulder onto his stumps. Salman Ali Agha managed to hit three boundaries in his short 22-ball innings of 19 runs but was soon stumped off a ball from Maharaj. The home side took advantage from that point to bowl Pakistan out for just 194, but if the visitors can maintain their second innings momentum going into tomorrow, it could set up an intriguing finish for the final day of this Test match.
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After The Match, Babar Stated “The conditions here differ from those in Centurion, When playing in South Africa, you don’t anticipate the pitch being so flat. It was a little tough with the new ball, but after you establish yourself and develop a partnership, it becomes more manageable. However, there are some uneven areas; you witnessed a few overs from Maharaj to Shan that had some turn and bounce. Therefore, the spinner poses a challenge for the batsman. But when facing the fast bowlers, if you’re settled, just stick to your usual game.”
“I should have taken advantage during our collaboration, but unfortunately, that didn’t occur,” Babar Azam stated. “In the second half of the match, my alliance with Shan has assisted us in getting back into the game a bit. Tomorrow, we need to focus on forming a partnership, as the longer those partnerships last, the greater the pressure will be on South Africa.”
“Life is always changing,” he reflected. “I gained a lot of insight during this phase of poor performance when I couldn’t achieve what I wanted to and couldn’t meet others’ expectations of me. I just kept reminding myself to remain composed, trust that my skills and dedication would pay off, and try to find enjoyment in the game. However, what was truly crucial was to spend some time on the field, and thankfully, that has occurred this series.”
