Babar Azam, Shan Masood lead Pakistan's fightback after follow-on

Pakistan made a strong reply in their second innings after being forced to follow-on by South Africa in the second Test in Cape Town. At the end of day three, Pakistan's score was 213 for 1, still trailing South Africa's massive total of 615 by 208 runs.

Shan Masood and Babar Azam produced an excellent opening partnership for Pakistan, their highest-ever against South Africa. Masood, who had struggled for runs in recent innings, broke his dry spell with a brilliant 102 not out. This was his sixth Test century and the first by a Pakistan captain in South Africa. Babar, opening in for the injured Saim Ayub, contributed 81 runs. The pair helped Pakistan reduce their deficit of 421 runs from the first innings, with nine wickets still in hand.

South Africa's bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and Keshav Maharaj, toiled hard on a pitch that remained good for batting despite showing signs of spin. However, their discipline let them down, with 23 no-balls bowled across both innings, 10 of which came in Pakistan's second innings. Rabada, though effective, was unfortunate when he found Masood’s edge at 18, but the ball flew through the vacant third slip region. Later, he got Masood's edge again, but the chance was missed.

After dismissing Pakistan for 194 in the first innings, South Africa enforced the follow-on with hopes of wrapping up the match quickly. Rabada and Jansen found little assistance from the surface, and the change bowlers, Mulder and debutant Kwena Maphaka, couldn’t make a breakthrough. Pakistan reached tea on 80 without loss.

Masood’s half-century came with a well-timed pull off Rabada, while Babar reached his fifty with a crisp drive off Jansen. Babar’s form continued, having already scored a half-century in the first innings. However, frustration began to show as South Africa's bowlers struggled. Mulder threw the ball at Babar after a delivery hit him on the shin, which led to a brief exchange of words. The situation was calmed by the umpire.

Masood brought up his century with a flick off Jansen, celebrating by glancing skywards. Babar was looking set for a ton too but edged a ball from Jansen to slip, where Ben Bedingham took a sharp catch. Babar's innings of 81 in the second innings added to his 27 runs from the first innings, giving him a total of 108 runs on the day.

Earlier, in Pakistan's first innings, South Africa's bowlers had been too disciplined for the most part, dismissing Pakistan for just 194. The Pakistan batsmen's poor shot selection led to a collapse, with six wickets falling for 76 runs after lunch. Rizwan, who had earlier been hit on the collarbone by Jansen, was dismissed cheaply. Other wickets fell as Pakistan’s players made rash shots in the face of tough conditions.

Despite their challenging position, Pakistan will look to continue their resistance on day four. With the pitch still good for batting and some turn expected to develop, Pakistan is determined to keep battling. 

Saim Ayub, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, will leave for treatment in London tomorrow.

Teams:

Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas

South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka