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DAY 3: Proteas on top but Pakistan fighting hard

football05 January 2025 16:09| © MWP
By:Brendon Atwell
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Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Shan Masood stood tall in the face of South Africa’s attack to close out day three on 213 for one in their second innings of the second test at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

Having been asked to follow on after being bowled out for 194 in their first innings, Babar and Masood combined to lay down Pakistan’s best opening stand against South Africa, beating the previous best set by Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat back in 2002-03, to leave the match deficit at 208 with nine-second innings wickets intact – bar Saim Ayub, who fractured his ankle on day one.

“We did well to bowl them out for 194 in the first innings, and making them follow on is tough because as it is, the wicket is at its best to bat on,” said Proteas bowling coach, Piet Botha, after the day’s play.

Babar and Masood negotiated the period to tea by adding 80 runs and reducing the deficit to 341 runs, bringing up the 50-run stand in 45 minutes.

The third session belonged to Pakistan as Masood raised his sixth-test century from 159 balls with 14 boundaries as the pair celebrated the 200-run stand in 195 minutes.

“You can’t defend, you have to be attacking because of the position we are in. We have to keep the slips and gully in, have to use the bouncer even though it’s not quick – we have to keep attacking,” said Botha.

Marco Jansen (10-0-56-1) brought some joy to the beleaguered South African camp when he had Babar driving at a wide delivery, only to be well-caught in the gully-region by David Bedingham for a well-played 81, including 10 boundaries from 124 balls, bringing an end to the first-wicket marathon on 205.

“That’s test cricket. A double-century partnership there, that happens in test cricket and it was our time to face it but we just have to be good tomorrow,” said Botha.

“Very disappointed with both innings because I started well but did not finish well. With 15 minutes left I was very disappointed,” said Babar at the post-day press conference.

Kagiso Rabada bowled 12 overs and conceded 56 runs with six no-balls while Kwena Maphaka conceded 31 runs in six overs.

Wiaan Mulder delivered five tidy overs for 16 while Keshav Maharaj sent down 15 overs for 36 runs and was the only bowler with maidens under his belt.

“You have to bowl well obviously, in the good areas, but we bowled both sides of the wicket. There are a couple of factors like fatigue, but no excuses. It comes in patches but tomorrow is a new day,” added Botha.

Khurram Shahzad (8 not out) walked in as the night-watchman and managed the final 15 minutes to the close with Masood, who ended unbeaten on a brilliant 102, to give Pakistan some hope of forcing the South Africans to bat again.

“The first session tomorrow is going to be vital for us with the new batter in and the captain having to start all over again,” stated Botha.

PAKISTAN FORCED TO FOLLOW ON

The third morning began with Pakistan on 64 for three with Babar and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease.

The pair of experienced top-order men navigated the first hour of play, taking the visitors to 116 for three and their partnership to 96.

However, shortly after the drinks break, Maphaka (8.2-1-43-2) struck to the joyous rapture of the Cape faithful.

Maphaka charged down the pitch in absolute ecstasy as Babar stood forlornly – unable to comprehend being caught down the leg side by Kyle Verreynne.

“It was a massive opportunity for him, obviously a bit of nerves but he handles it quite nicely. He’s a quick bowler and our message to him is to go out and bowl quick,” said Botha about the teenage sensation.

“As a batsman, you see the ball and then make mistakes but next time I will have more focus,” added Babar.

With just half an hour to go before the third day’s lunch break, Mulder (11-0-44-1), who had been targeting the middle stump all morning, bowled a little wider and Rizwan, who had faced 82 deliveries, eyed the opportunity to clobber the ball down the ground, only to send the ball onto his own stumps, after striking two fours and a six.

Shortly before the lunch break, Verreynne displayed incredible hand-speed as he whipped the bails off from a Maharaj (8-2-14-2) delivery that turned past the outside edge of Salman Agha’s bat.

Agha’s foot was in the air and had to walk for a 22-ball 19, leaving Pakistan on 155 for six at the lunch break.

“A couple have turned and bounced so the signs are there that after lunch tomorrow and maybe into day five Kesh will come more and more into the game. And if that happens then Aiden will also come more into the game,” noted Botha.

The Proteas needed just 35 minutes to mop-up the Pakistan tail as Rabada (15-3-55-3) had Amir Jamal (5) top-edging to Bedingham at first slip, who then claimed a great catch at short leg off Maharaj to dismiss Mir Hamza (13) before Maphaka ended the innings by having Shahzad caught at point by Tristan Stubbs for 14.

RECAP OF DAY 1 AND 2

South Africa’s first innings had come to an end after tea on the second day, having being bowled out for 615 after winning the toss and batting first on Friday.

Ryan Rickelton’s masterful 259 from 343 balls included 29 boundaries and three maximums.

Rickelton’s fourth-wicket stand with captain Temba Bavuma (106) of 235 was the highest 4th-wicket stand at Newlands, beating the previous best between Les Ames and Wally Hammond for England back in 1938/39.

The stand was an important one as Pakistan had reduced the home side to 72 for three at lunch on the opening day.

Aiden Markram (17) had provided an solid opening stand with Rickelton of 61 but then Khurram Shahzad (25-4-123-2) had Markram edging through to Rizwan behind the stumps.

Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) fell in quick succession to Mohammad Abbas (27.3-1-94-3) and spinner Salman Agha (38-4-148-3) respectively.

Bavuma fell shortly before the end of play on day one with Bedingham (5) and Rickelton taking their side to the close with South Africa on 316 for four.

Bedingham fell early on the second morning with Abbas and Rizwan combining again only for Verryenne (100) and Rickelton to pile on the pressure further with a 6th-wicket stand of 148.

Verreynne’s aggression was evident throughout as the wicketkeeper cracked nine fours and five sixes from 147 balls.

Marco Jansen (62) and Mahraj (40) added further insult to injury.

Jansen and Rickelton first added 86 runs for the 7th-wicket from only 67 deliveries while Maharaj dominated the 9th-wicket stand of 42 with Kagiso Rabada (6 not out) from 32 balls.

The Proteas had Pakistan in deep trouble as Rabada and Jansen (12-4-36-1) reduced the visitors to 20 for three.

Rabada had Shan Masood (2) caught at first slip by Bedingham and then Jansen had Kamran Ghulam playing on for 12.

Rabada and Bedingham combined again to see the back of Saud Shakeel for a 6-ball duck.

But Babar and Rizwan knuckled down and took their side to the close of day two without any further damage.

SOUTH AFRICA: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (capt), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad.

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