Has a batter ever been correctly given out LBW in the history of cricket? Barely, if the batters themselves are to be believed. Monday was just another case of a batter being bitter upon given out as Shan Masood went on a tirade after being struck LBW by Kwena Maphaka at Cape Town for 145.
Pakistan’s resistance in the face of daunting odds crumbled on the evening of Day 4 at Cape Town in the New Year’s Test as the side lost two crucial wickets post Lunch to be left reeling at 329/4 while facing a first innings deficit of 421 runs. The visitors had managed to delay the inevitable with a stellar 205-run opening stand between Babar Azam and Shan Masood, with the latter keeping his guards up even when wickets started falling at the other end. The Men in Green skipper had made his way to 145 by the time the Proteas took the new ball shortly after the first session break but when the ball with his name finally did arrive, Masood was unwilling to embrace his fate and focused rather on blaming the review system for his dismissal.
Kwena Maphaka was handed the shiny red cherry as reward for a probing reverse swing spell, and took just five deliveries to get his man with a length delivery from over the stumps that skidded through low while straightening just enough to rap Masood on the pads. Even though the umpires declared the impact was outside the line, the ensuing review showed three reds and the Pakistan captain had to walk. However, the veteran was displeased by the decision, as was his batting partner Mohammad Rizwan whoes eyes popped wide in shock as he pointed at the replays on the screens. The cameras later caught Masood alleging further injustice in the dressing room as he shook his hands at the screen with disgust, forcing the broadcasters to explain on air that the replay cameras were not perfectly aligned with the stumps and thus had a significant measure of parallax error in their footage.
Funnily enough, Masood had been struck LBW once before already before Lunch but Kyle Verreyne’s claim that the ball was going down leg had kept his skipper Temba Bavuma from going upstairs. The bowler in that case was Kwena Maphaka too, causing Twitter to comment on the irony of Masood believe injustice had been served.
Gone!
He is not happy!
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531) January 6, 2025
WELL PLAYED SHAN MASOOD.!!!!
– Shan Masood shesmed 145 runs in 251 balls including 17 Top class knock in 2nd Innings vs South Africa Captain leading the example for Pak.!!! pic.twitter.com/eP9MbGVzBC— MANU. (@Manojy9812) January 6, 2025
Back in form
Good
Top Scorer for Pakistan in this TEST series:
Babar Azam: 193 Runs
Shan Masood: 192 Runs pic.twitter.com/uFkGrUkLfA— Salman 🇵🇰 (@SalmanAsif2007) January 6, 2025
Shan Masood Out on 145 Runs
Best Performance 👍 #PAKvsSA #PakistanCricket #test pic.twitter.com/B3a877wXKG— Football & Cricket News (@ejaz_taha001) January 6, 2025
Wonderful
A wonderful century (145) by @TheRealPCB 🇵🇰 captain Shan Masood against South Africa 🇿🇦in Cape Town. He’s such a calm and humble guy and always open to feedback and new ideas – keen to keep getting better. He’s a pleasure to work with. Well done Shan 👏🏽🏏 pic.twitter.com/IO5QTN2CPY
— Toby Radford (@TobyRadford1) January 6, 2025
Fight back
Skipper Shan Masood’s brilliant fighting knock of 145 comes to an end! 🙌🔥#SAvPAK | #GreenShirts pic.twitter.com/EYbzRwykeo
— Green Shirts 🏏🇵🇰 (@greenshirts17) January 6, 2025
Shan Masood was furious over umpire’s decision, wasn’t happy with it but that’s how the game goes. A brilliant innings though, a career saving knock. #SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/3wyaNpl5Oe
— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) January 6, 2025
Last hope
The Last Hope Of Pakistan Team Finally Ended. Shan Masood Departs After Playing An Incredible Knock ❤️👏#SAvsPAK
Shan Masood Departs For 145 😭 pic.twitter.com/TuoIA953RL— Misran Ahmad 🏏Shahzadain 🇵🇰 (@MisranAhmad19) January 6, 2025
Gritty
Shan Masood steers Pakistan’s gritty display in the second innings with the trail now reduced to 109 runs 🏏#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/avjLLw1o25
— Arooj 🇨🇦 (@iMArOoj) January 6, 2025
