Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan injected much-needed confidence into the Pakistan camp with a strong start on Day 3, adding 54 runs to their overnight stand of 43 runs to take the team past the century mark. However, things quickly fell apart when Babar Azam tickled one down leg to succumb for 58 and become Kwena Maphaka’s first Test wicket. By Lunch, Rizwan and Salman Agha had followed suit to the dugout courtesy of Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj respectively, leaving the visitors reeling at 155/6. A scalp each for Kagiso Rabada, Maphaka, and Maharaj thereafter ensured the Men in Green folded out for 194, provoking South Africa to enforce the follow-on.
The narrative completely flipped thereafter as the Proteas pacers seemed to lose their venom despite some probing spells from Rabada with the Pakistan openers maintaining discipline throughout. Babar, forced to open in the absence of the injured Saim Ayub, scored his second half-century either side of Tea while Shan brought up his first fifty-plus score of the tour. The two scripted the highest-ever opening stand for Pakistan in South Africa, the nation’s first century opening stand in Tests in over three years as well as Pakistan’s highest first-wicket partnership when following on, to end the day on a resounding XXX/, albeit still a good XXX runs behind the hosts.
194 all-out in first innings to 204 for 0 in second innings in a single Day in Test cricket 🤯
– Typical Pakistan, led by Shan Masood & Babar Azam. pic.twitter.com/uBQp5f2Gk2— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2025
A stunning fightback by Pakistan, led by Shan Masood’s century and Babar’s solid 81. The job isn’t done yet they’ll need to keep the momentum to force South Africa to bat again.#SAvPAK #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/0e5ZylexbK
— Sajid Afridi (@Saj_da02) January 5, 2025
Good
Why?
No body literally no body mousami cricket fans yar ye pakistan dubara q batting krraha hai south africa q nhi krraha 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Zari khan🇵🇰 (@zkkhan51) January 5, 2025
🚨 Captain Shan Masood struck an unbeaten century in a stunning opening stand of 205 with Babar Azam as Pakistan launched a fightback on day three of the second and final test against hosts South Africa at Newlands on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/fnKMjlamsN
— Sports News Recap (@sportsnewsrecap) January 5, 2025
Too good
Shan Masood and Babar Azam put on Pakistan’s first 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣+ opening wicket partnership since December 2022! 🤝 🫶
✅ Pakistan’s 1st 200 runs opening partnership in Test against South Africa.
✅ Pakistan’s 4th 200 runs opening partnership in Test away forme home.#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/955drASIpr— ꜱᴘᴏʀᴛꜱ ꜱᴛᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴀʟʏꜱᴛ 🇮🇳 (@_mkverma) January 5, 2025
Brilliant
Some Great performances of Shan Masood in South Africa (Test Format):
1) 65 vs 🇿🇦 – Centurion
2) 44 vs 🇿🇦 – Cape Town
3) 61 vs 🇿🇦 – Cape Town
4) 102* vs 🇿🇦 – Cape Town
Only Captain in Pakistan history scoring a Test 100 in SA 🇿🇦.
Dream for Self proclaimed King.#PakvsSA pic.twitter.com/Vkicp3fdXQ— Cric mate (@Crickmate13) January 5, 2025
Pakistan posted their highest opening stand against South Africa as Shan Masood and Babar Azam put up solid resistance against the hosts on a flat track. #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/nmqexfcHdk
— Mir Hamza Mughal (@2Mirhamzamughal) January 5, 2025
Tremendous
Shan Masood has played so tremendously and made century against South Africa in 2nd Test match. That meant a lot for the Pakistan 🇵🇰 skipper.
Shan Masood’s made his first century against South Africa team. #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/P8tsxOXoSV— 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 (@CricZone24) January 5, 2025
Lovely
2nd Test, Day 3: Captain Shan Masood leads fight back with century as Pakistan follow-on vs South Africa
✴✶ 🎀 GOOD NIGHT
SWEET DREAMS 🎀 ✶✴ pic.twitter.com/6ZTwvppKjr— Shaukat Faiz (@iamhassan112) January 5, 2025
